The emerging field of cellular agriculture, which is represented by cultured meat, enables food production, as it is underlain by advanced technology and involves competitions on active research and development around the world. Cellular agriculture is expected to contribute to animal welfare, environmental protection and sustainable food production, but it may also affect existing food systems as well as cultural habits and social norms. A critical task is to examine ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in relation to this field—issues that have yet to become apparent.
This project is aimed at predicting and analyzing ELSI, which is a challenge in establishing cellular agriculture technologies as the core of a sustainable society. Combining wisdom from the humanities and social sciences, we will identify and examine issues that influence civic consciousness, politics and ethics, which cannot be measured using economic indicators, in the context of Japan. We will also work closely with research development sites and stakeholders at each stage of the project, from identifying and establishing issues to deriving results. This project will implement the pioneering practice of RRI, in which the knowledge and results that we obtain will be progressively incorporated into the research and technology development process.

・R&D Period： October 2021 - March 2025
・Grant Number： JPMJRX21J5