The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has condemned a Department of Defense research grant to BioMADE, an aspirant producer of cell-cultivated meat. It is obviously within the remit of the DoD to fund research leading to enhanced nutrition of service members and for convenience in meal preparation and improved food safety. It is difficult at face value to ascertain the objective or to justify the grant since venture capital funds have supported, albeit without success, the development of cell-cultured meat that has yet to achieve commercial viability.
The purpose of the grant was for BioMADE to address “conversion of waste streams into bio- products using fermentation and cultivation of protein”. The position of the DoD would be more acceptable if the specific purpose of project were to be explained providing this does not conflict with the national interest.
Ethan Lane, Vice-president of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association noted, “This misguided research project is a giant slap in the face to everyone that has served our country. Our veteran’s and active-duty troop deserve so much better than this.” It is presumed that Ethan Lane has at his disposal the terms of reference and conditions of the grant and has confirmed that the BioMADE project either does or does not contribute to military readiness or the national interest.