Hearings on the government bill banning cultivated meat in Italy and preventing the use of terms like ‘salami’ and ‘steak’ for plant-based foods conclude today in the Chamber of Deputies. 

The newly formed Italian Complementary Protein Alliance, representing a cross-section of stakeholders with interests in Italy’s agri-food landscape, was unable to take part in the hearings as they only became public after the deadline for requesting participation had passed. 

The Alliance includes food production companies, academic institutions and researchers, civil society, and economic development-focused associations with expertise in plant-based food, cultivated meat and other complementary proteins. Agricoltura Cellulare Italia, Alternative Protein International, Animal Law Italia, Bruno Cell, Cellular Agriculture Europe, Sharon Cittone (Edible Planet Ventures), Luciano Conti (University of Trento), Essere Animali, the Good Food Institute Europe, Jeremy Coller Foundation and Mosa Meat are among its members.

If this bill passed and the European Food Safety Authority were to approve the sale of cultivated meat in the EU, on the basis of the community rules on the free circulation of goods and services, Italy would no longer have any basis for opposing their import and distribution.

Francesca Gallelli of the Good Food Institute Europe, a member of the Alliance, said: “As a group of researchers, entrepreneurs and nongovernmental organisations with expertise in plant-based and cultivated meat, we would have hoped to be able to contribute to the discussion on such a crucial issue for the sustainable development of the country. But the opening of the round of hearings became public only after the deadline for requesting to participate had already expired – so informing the parliamentary debate was impossible except by passively sending a written brief.

“Plant-based and cultivated meat offer key opportunities for combating climate change and for economic growth. Peer-reviewed research has shown that cultivated meat could cut the greenhouse gas emissions of beef by 92 percent, and reduce land use by 90 percent. These sectors will create tens of thousands of jobs, and offer opportunities for farmers to diversify and produce high-value inputs for the complementary protein supply chain. The government must ensure those jobs are created in Italy, rather than overseas.

“We hope that the House committees can consider reopening the round of hearings, and give publicity to the terms. This and subsequent steps in the debate on the issue must consult all relevant social partners to ensure decisions are informed by the most complete information, and to balance all interests. Without engaging in an open and fully informed debate, Italy will cut itself off from crucial opportunities for sustainable development and economic growth.”

Bruno Cell, Italy’s first startup entirely focused on cultivated meat and another member of the Alliance, said: “During the recent debate in the Senate, our startup was first included among the speakers only to be completely ignored. Now it has gotten even worse, as we were not even given the opportunity to stand for debate. We therefore hope that the hearings will be reopened, because we would like to bring our point of view, that of those who do business believing in innovation as a common good.”