Life Cycle Assessment of Cultured Meat: Environmental Impacts from Production to Consumption

Abstract

With the growth of the global population and the increasing environmental challenges, cultured meat has emerged as a potential sustainable alternative and has become a hot topic in both the food industry and environmental research. In recent years, the production technologies and market prospects of cultured meat have garnered widespread attention, especially its potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water resource consumption, and land use. However, existing research has mostly focused on technological breakthroughs, and systematic analysis of the life cycle environmental impacts of cultured meat remains relatively limited. This paper, based on Life Cycle Assessment methodology, analyzes the environmental impacts of cultured meat in its production, transportation, consumption, and disposal stages, and compares it with traditional livestock farming and plant-based meats. The study shows that cultured meat has significant advantages in terms of carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use but still faces challenges in production energy consumption and technological costs. The paper further explores the optimization of cultured meat technologies, including media improvements, gene editing technology, and bioreactor design, and proposes optimization strategies for production. The research indicates that cultured meat has the potential to play a significant role in future food systems, but production costs and energy consumption issues still need to be addressed. Future research should focus on technological innovation, the establishment of dynamic LCA monitoring systems, and market promotion and consumer education to provide stronger support for the commercialization and sustainable development of cultured meat.