Critical Perspective of Animal Production Specialists on Cell-Based Meat in Brazil: From Bottleneck to Best Scenarios

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The opinion of professionals involved in animal production is very important to the development of the emerging cell-based meat chain. This paper aims to analyse the perspective of Brazilian veterinarians and animal scientists regarding cell-based meat—women, veterinarians, vegetarians and vegans were more supportive of cell-based meat. The resistance expressed by the professionals seems related to a lack of knowledge and the association of cultivated meat with artificiality, which has a negative connotation. Therefore, higher education and motivation of veterinarians and animal scientists may mitigate the resistance and help these professionals to engage in this new chain for the benefit of the professionals themselves, society, the animals involved and the environment. ABSTRACT: Recently, many studies regarding consumer perception of cell-based meat have been published. However, the opinion of the professionals involved in animal production also seems relevant. In particular, veterinarians and animal scientists may be important players in the new cell-based meat production, acting as proponents or barriers to this major improvement for farm animal welfare. Therefore, our aim is to analyse the knowledge and perspective of Brazilian veterinarians and animal scientists regarding cell-based meat. Veterinarians (76.8%; 209/272) and animal scientists (23.2%; 63/272) responded to an online survey. Logistic regression, latent class and logit models were used to evaluate objective answers, and the Discourse of the Collective Subject method was used to interpret open-ended answers. Specialists who were women (62.5%; 170/272), veterinarians (76.8%; 209/272), vegetarians (7.0%; 19/272) and vegans (1.1%; 3/272) were more supportive of cell-based meat. Lack of knowledge and the connection with artificiality, the most frequent spontaneous word associated with cell-based meat by all respondents, were the main negative points highlighted. Thus, it seems fundamental to offer higher education to veterinarians and animal scientists regarding cell-based meat, since engaging them with this novel technology may mitigate both the resistance and its negative consequences for the professionals, society, the animals involved and the environment.