November 6, 2020
Dear editor;
As the pandemic continues to ravage the country, now is the time for senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin of Illinois to support federal funding for cultured-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultured meat is grown from cells. Because animals are removed from the process, the risk of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19’s making the jump to humans is significantly reduced.
The idea of cultured meat on grocery shelves might sound far-fetched. But such products are already being developed by many companies, like JUST and Memphis Meats. Unfortunately, the science hasn’t advanced to the point at which cultured meat can compete with the price of cultured meat. Federal funding for more research would help fix that situation.
Jon Hochschartner, Granby, Conn.