A proposed ban on lab-grown meat in Nebraska is facing opposition from some of the state’s ranchers and farm organisations, despite strong support from Gov. Jim Pillen and traditional agriculture groups.
A major pork producer, is leading efforts to outlaw the sale, production, and distribution of cultivated meat, arguing it threatens Nebraska’s livestock industry. He previously signed an executive order barring state agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat. Nebraska joins a dozen states that are considering similar bans, while Florida and Alabama have already enacted them.
However, some ranchers, including high-end beef suppliers, argue that the market, not government intervention, should decide competition. Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, and Nebraska Pork Producers have also indicated they are not concerned about competition from lab-grown meat, favoring clear labeling over an outright ban.
Cultivated meat is still in its early stages, with only two companies—Upside Foods and Good Meat—approved to sell lab-grown chicken in the U.S. and no large-scale commercial production yet. The industry argues that banning the product now is premature and anti-competitive.
Supporters of the Nebraska ban, including state Sen. Barry DeKay and Nebraska Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, have shifted their messaging from economic protection to health concerns. Meanwhile, industry advocates point to projections showing global meat demand will double by 2050 and argue that lab-grown meat is a complementary, not competing, product.
Legal challenges have already emerged, with Upside Foods suing Florida over its ban. Attorneys representing the company claim such laws are designed to shield traditional agriculture from competition rather than protect consumers.