58% of Spanish people are in favour of cultivated meat arriving in Spain

60% of respondents favour its production in Spain, seeing it as an economic boost thanks to the creation of jobs and the promotion of innovation in the food industry

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13 June 2024

It is no news that consumers are increasingly exploring new options and looking to diversify their diets. This trend is reflected in the results of a recent survey conducted by YouGov for the Good Food Institute Europe, an international non-governmental organisation promoting alternative proteins. According to the survey, 39% of Spaniards plan to reduce their meat consumption in the next two years, while 5% say they will not eat meat at all. Furthermore, 58% support the arrival of cultivated meat in the Spanish market if it meets food safety standards. This being a common sentiment among the different political affinities.

First of all, what is cultivated meat? 

The process of making this food involves extracting a small sample of cells from an animal and then cultivating them in what is called a bioreactor, something similar to a fermenter like those used in beer production. In this way, the same conditions are recreated that would occur inside the organism for the cells to replicate and carry out the same growth processes they would have inside the animal, including the basic nutrients (water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals) needed to produce meat. It is a process similar to growing plants from cuttings in a greenhouse. 

A promising opportunity for Spain

Although cultivated meat is not currently available in the Spanish market, the survey reveals that 56% would try it at least once, and 24% would consider replacing some of the conventional meat they currently consume with this new alternative, if it were available in Spain*. This adds to the growing demand to include more sustainable and ethical food options in the market, giving consumers the freedom to choose between different protein sources.

According to available scientific evidence, meat production using renewable energy could reduce climate emissions by up to 92%, reduce air pollution by up to 93% and use up to 95% less agricultural land. This would allow for more efficient land use, allowing more land to be used for more sustainable agricultural practices and avoiding problems such as the abandonment of our fields and forests. 

The study also reveals that 48% of Spaniards, of different political affinities believe that administrations should invest in research and development (R&D) of cultivated meat*. Additionally, 60% of those surveyed are in favour of the product being produced in Spain*, as, thanks to the job creation and the boost it would give to the food sector in terms of R&D, they believe it could have a very positive impact on the Spanish economy.

Carlos Campillos Martínez, Public Affairs Manager Spain at The Good Food Institute Europe concludes that ‘these data show that there is a growing interest and curiosity towards cultivated meat in Spain. These products not only offer a response to consumer demand, but can also represent an important opportunity for our economy. It is encouraging to see that more than half of Spaniards are in favour of their arrival on the market, when approved by the European regulator. This reflects a clear support for the most innovative options which, in turn, can have significant benefits. Furthermore, they are clear that governments have an important role to play in driving R&D in this sector’.

*All presented results are based on aggregated %values from 2 scale-points (tend to agree + strongly agree)

About the data

The data comes from an online survey carried out by YouGov Deutschland GmbH, in which 1,016 people in Spain were surveyed between April 12 and 18, 2024. These results are representative of the Spanish population over 18 years of age.