Kathleen Merrigan

Meat and More: The Future of Protein

Kathleen Merrigan, Ethan Brown, Tom Hayes, Ashley Koff, Uma Valeti

A panel of industry leaders from Memphis Meats, Beyond Meat, and Tyson outlined strategies to address global protein demand sustainability challenges and rising health costs through cultured, plant-based, and conventional food innovations. Key figures emphasized a collaborative "Yes and" approach where traditional agriculture partners with cellular and plant sciences to improve resource efficiency, reduce antibiotic use, and offer consumers diverse, higher-quality dietary choices. The discussion highlighted that while current prices for alternative proteins remain higher due to scaling limitations, rapid technological advancements and global expansion plans aim to make these options cost-competitive and environmentally superior within the next decade.