Five food companies looking to bring cell-based/lab-cultured meat, poultry and seafood to restaurants and retail shelves in the U.S.have formed the Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation), a coalition focused on educating consumers and stakeholders about this new industry and advocating for a clear path to market for these products.

Founding member companies include BlueNalu and Finless Foods, makers of cell-based/cultured seafood; Fork & Goode and JUST, makers of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry, and Memphis Meats, which is making cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood.

All five member companies, along with other companies in this new and dynamic industry, are currently in the research and development phase but expect to make products available in the next several years through appropriate regulatory pathways. In addition, the companies recognize that, as with all foods, consumers will want clear and transparent information about these products as they become available. AMPS Innovation aims to provide a central, unified resource for consumers, stakeholders and policy-makers as the industry advances.

Cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood are real meat grown outside the animal, directly from animal cells. This means the companies are able to produce only the muscle, fat, skin and connective tissue that is typically eaten, without producing other parts of the animal that are not traditionally consumed. The groups explained that cell-based/cultured meat is "real meat," not a vegan/vegetarian meat alternative.

Related:FSIS, FDA to jointly oversee cell-based meat products

A year ago, Memphis Meats joined the North American Meat Institute in sending a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that cell-based meat and poultry products be regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure a level playing field for all products. Last summer, the Food & Drug Administration and USDA had a turf battle over who would regulate the new products, but both agencies agreed to a joint regulatory framework, which has been welcomed by the industry. Details of that framework remain in agency development.

The meat industry and those entering the market, including Memphis Meats, agreed that FDA should take the steps necessary regarding pre-market approval of new cell-based technology and that USDA’s inspectors should oversee the production of any products destined for the marketplace, just as traditional meat products have been since the Federal Meat Inspection Act was passed in 1906.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Assn., National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn., National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council and National Turkey Federation all support USDA's regulatory authority over new cell-based meat products.

Related:A few minutes with Kristopher Gasteratos: Cell-based meat guru shares what's ahead

Members of AMPS Innovation understand that cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood is one solution that will help fulfill the increased demand for meat as the global population grows to 10 billion people by 2050. Member companies also expect their process to provide significant benefits for the environment, animal welfare and public health, the groups said in their statement.

In a joint statement, Lou Cooperhouse, co-founder and chief executive officer of BlueNalu; Michael Selden, co-founder and CEO of Finless Foods; Niya Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Fork & Goode; Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of JUST, and Dr. Uma Valeti, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats, said: “The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation was founded on a desire for members of our industry to come together and speak with a unified voice as we emerge as a viable, impactful partner in the overall food and agriculture sector. Over the past few years, each member company has made significant strides in the development of our products, and we are excited at the prospect that they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals. We are committed to an open and science-based dialogue with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policy-makers, advocates and consumers. 

"As we look ahead to the imminent challenges of feeding a growing population, AMPS Innovation is dedicated to working together, in partnership with the broader agricultural community, to advance solutions to address these needs,” the CEOs added.

In the coming months, AMPS Innovation intends to educate policy-makers and stakeholders on these products, in addition to working with Congress, USDA and FDA as they continue to build out a regulatory framework for meat, poultry and seafood that is grown directly from animal cells rather than harvested from the animals themselves. AMPS Innovation said it aims to create an environment for the industry that will support continued innovation for years to come.