Nebraska Joins Growing List of States Banning Lab-Grown Meat
Nebraska becomes the sixth U.S. state to ban cultivated meat, citing economic and health concerns amid a nationwide debate over the future of food.
A Bold Move in Beef Country
In a firm show of support for traditional agriculture, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed a new law this week banning the production and sale of cultivated meat—also known as lab-grown or cell-cultured meat—throughout the state. For a state deeply rooted in livestock farming, the message is clear: conventional meat comes first.
What’s in the Law?
Passed as LB246, the law prohibits not just the sale but also the promotion and distribution of lab-grown meat. An alternative proposal that would’ve softened the measure into a labeling requirement was struck down in legislative debate. The final vote? A decisive 38-11.
Why Now?
Governor Pillen, a former hog farmer, argues the health implications of meat grown in bioreactors remain uncertain. His concerns echo a broader movement among rural, agriculture-heavy states to protect their economies and food traditions from emerging protein technologies.
Beyond the Ban: A Bigger Strategy
This isn’t Nebraska’s first stand against cultivated meat. Last year, Pillen signed an Executive Order banning such products from government contracts and purchases. That policy set the tone for this more sweeping legislative step.
The Bigger Picture
With Nebraska’s $31.6 billion livestock industry at stake, it’s no surprise the state is taking a protective stance. The move also signals a deeper philosophical divide in the U.S. food system: technological innovation versus agricultural heritage.
Source: https://www.swineweb.com/latest-swine-news/nebraska-becomes-sixth-state-to-ban-cultivated-meat/