New survey finds 3 out of 5 Dutch people are ready for cultivated meat

Cultivated meat is emerging as a potential solution to make the food sector more sustainable. A large number of Dutch consumers also see this: 59% of those surveyed are interested in trying cultivated meat. And almost a third are willing to replace some of the meat they eat with cultivated meat once it arrives on the Dutch market. These are the findings of a recent survey by YouGov commissioned by the non-profit and think tank Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) into the attitudes of Dutch consumers towards cultivated meat.  

Cultivated meat is similar to the meat we eat today, but it is produced in cultivators (similar to the fermenters used to make beer), which replicate the processes that occur in an animal’s body, providing the conditions and nutrients (water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals) necessary to produce meat.

The survey found that 65% of Dutch respondents think the amount of meat we currently eat in the Netherlands is too high and 50% want to eat less or no meat in the next two years. With more than 50 startups in Europe (including the Dutch Meatable and Mosa Meat) focused on advancing the sector, cultivated meat has the potential to help meet food security goals while reducing the environmental impact of meat consumption and increasing consumer choice. Existing research suggests that cultivated meat could cut the climate impact of meat by up to 92%, reduce air pollution by up to 94%, and use up to 90% less land compared to conventional meat. 

Over half (53%) of survey respondents agree that governments should invest in research and development into cultivated meat, which will be essential to making it affordable and accessible. Similarly, 57% believe that policymakers should help farmers benefit from any new opportunities that the sector offers.

Frontrunner position

In 2013, the first cultivated hamburger was developed in the Netherlands, and the country has managed to maintain a leading position in Europe ever since. In 2022, the Dutch government allocated 60 million euros for research, education and scale-up – the largest public investment in cultivated meat to date. This year, the first cultivated meat tasting took place in the Netherlands, thanks to the creation of a dedicated Code of Practice to enable pre-market tastings for cultivated meat and seafood. 

As a founder and pioneer, the Netherlands is already well on its way to stimulating research and regulation to support an ecosystem around cultivated meat. However, before a cultivated meat product can be sold in the EU, it must be approved within the EU Novel Food regulation. According to the survey, 63% of respondents agree that if cultivated meat passes the assessment by the food safety regulator, it should be available for sale so that consumers can decide whether to eat it. Additionally, 60% believe that when cultivated meat comes to the market, it should also be produced in the Netherlands to benefit the national economy. 

“The Netherlands is the birthplace of cultivated meat and consumers are curious and open to this new product that could deliver their favourite meat more efficiently and sustainably,” explains Acacia Smith, Senior Policy Manager at the Good Food Institute Europe. “The country is leading the way in this sector and is in a privileged position to reap the economic and environmental benefits of cultivated meat.”