Governor Ron DeSantis has recently enacted new legislation aimed at prohibiting the sale of lab-grown meat within Florida.
Addressing reporters during a news conference held in Hardee County, Governor DeSantis accused the World Economic Forum of promoting lab-grown meat consumption globally, a move he vehemently opposes.
The legislation, officially designated as SB 1084, specifically bars the sale of lab-grown meat across the state.
This legislative action forms part of Governor DeSantis’s broader campaign against “ESG” principles, which advocate for investments in companies mindful of their environmental and social impact.
This initiative traces back to the 2019 Green New Deal proposed by Congressional Democrats and subsequent findings highlighting the meat industry’s significant contribution to climate change.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2020 underscored the substantial environmental footprint of red meat production, particularly its greenhouse gas emissions.
Lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated meat, gained FDA and USDA approval for sale from companies like Good Meat Inc. and Upside Foods, offering alternatives like burger patties and chicken nuggets produced from animal cells.
Despite being touted as a greener meat option, a 2023 study from the University of California, Davis, suggested that the cultivation process of lab-grown meat might actually exacerbate climate issues due to its energy-intensive nature, though further peer-reviewed research is deemed necessary.