About this Research Topic
Lab grown agricultural products derived from cell culture technology are due to shape global agriculture and food production. Initially focused on meat, the technology very soon expanded into other animal-derived products, such as milk and cheese. Cellular agricultural products can imitate meat and dairy, without the need to rear and slaughter animals. If successful, it will soon be the first time in human history that agricultural foodstuffs will be produced by lab personnel rather than farmers.
The aim of animal breeding is to provide farmers with animals of desirable characteristics, e.g., good marbling in beef meat ormilk with high concentration of protein and fat. However, if cellular agriculture manages to completely mimic meat and dairy characteristics, there will be no need for selective breeding. Currently, it is unknown if cellular agriculture will manage to capture all the diversity of different breeds and species. Hence, it is important to explore if this emerging field will open new inroads for small breeds and conservation genetics or whether it will further suppress biodiversity by using cells only from elite breeds and animals.
This collection aims to shed more light on the effects that cellular agriculture might have in animal breeding programs and biodiversity, and how animal breeding could influence the applications of cellular agriculture. We welcome all types of articles that contribute to the enhancement of this topic area, including review, opinion articles and simulation - based research. Since cellular agriculture is not limited to meat production, all type of animal-derived products can be considered.
We will aim to answer the following questions:
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Animal Breeding?
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Biodiversity?
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Conservation Genetics?
Suggested topics include:
• Opportunities for Cellular Agriculture and Animal Breeding to converge with one another.
• Studies applying concepts or methodologies used to identify or advance positive interrelation between Cellular Agriculture and conservation of small breeds facing the risk of extinction.
• Evidence that involves a correlation between Cellular Agriculture and biodiversity, or sustainability of animal farming
The aim of animal breeding is to provide farmers with animals of desirable characteristics, e.g., good marbling in beef meat ormilk with high concentration of protein and fat. However, if cellular agriculture manages to completely mimic meat and dairy characteristics, there will be no need for selective breeding. Currently, it is unknown if cellular agriculture will manage to capture all the diversity of different breeds and species. Hence, it is important to explore if this emerging field will open new inroads for small breeds and conservation genetics or whether it will further suppress biodiversity by using cells only from elite breeds and animals.
This collection aims to shed more light on the effects that cellular agriculture might have in animal breeding programs and biodiversity, and how animal breeding could influence the applications of cellular agriculture. We welcome all types of articles that contribute to the enhancement of this topic area, including review, opinion articles and simulation - based research. Since cellular agriculture is not limited to meat production, all type of animal-derived products can be considered.
We will aim to answer the following questions:
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Animal Breeding?
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Biodiversity?
• What are the links between Cellular Agriculture and Conservation Genetics?
Suggested topics include:
• Opportunities for Cellular Agriculture and Animal Breeding to converge with one another.
• Studies applying concepts or methodologies used to identify or advance positive interrelation between Cellular Agriculture and conservation of small breeds facing the risk of extinction.
• Evidence that involves a correlation between Cellular Agriculture and biodiversity, or sustainability of animal farming
Keywords: breeding, genetic diversity, biodiversity, cultured meat, synthetic meat, lab grown meat, cellular agriculture
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
