Brussels debate to tackle farmers’ place in the future of cellular agriculture

The Brussels Times will convene policymakers, industry leaders, and farmers on 14 October for an interactive online debate on 'Cellular Agriculture and the Role of Farmers', livestreamed from the European Parliament between 16:00-17:30 CET.

As Europe works to meet its Green Deal objectives while maintaining food security under the strain of climate change, new protein production methods are taking center stage. One such method, cellular agriculture – the production of animal products directly from cells rather than raising whole animals – is being positioned as a potential game-changer.

However, this emerging sector is prompting significant questions. Chief among them: What role will farmers play in this new food landscape? Can they become active participants in the transition, or will the shift to cultivated meat risk sidelining rural communities?

The October debate aims to explore these questions head-on, with a particular focus on integrating cultivated meat production into rural economies. At the center of the conversation is RESPECTfarms, a European initiative developing a model for farm-based cultivated meat production. The project envisions farmers producing meat without animal slaughter, while maintaining their essential role as stewards of the land.

“Farmers have always been central to Europe’s food system,” the organizers note. “If cultivated meat becomes part of the protein mix, farmers should be involved in shaping and benefiting from that change.”

The event is intended to give Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and other policymakers a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges cellular agriculture presents. By showcasing the RESPECTfarms approach, which combines new biotechnologies with existing agricultural expertise, the debate seeks to demonstrate how a just transition could work in practice.

Scheduled speakers include Michel Vandenbosch, President of GAIA; Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup For Animals; and Ira van Eelen, Co-Founder of KindEarth.Tech and a globally recognized advocate for cultivated meat, who will address the ethical, environmental, and socio-economic implications of cellular agriculture.

Joining them will be Annelies Bogaerts, CEO of Fishway, a European company developing cultivated fish products, who will share insights into innovation in aquaculture and the importance of EU-level support. Mark Post, Chief Scientific Officer of Mosa Meat and a leading figure in cultivated beef research, will also participate. A farmer involved in the RESPECTfarms project will give a personal account of their motivations and experience transitioning toward this new form of production.

With the EU continuing to develop frameworks for sustainable food systems, cellular agriculture is expected to play a growing role in future strategies and legislation. Supporters argue that the technology could help the bloc meet climate and biodiversity goals while safeguarding food sovereignty.

RESPECTfarms positions itself as a practical example of how farmers can be included in this shift. The organization promotes on-farm cultivated meat production systems, combining cell culture expertise with farmers’ existing infrastructure and knowledge. This approach, advocates say, could keep economic benefits in rural areas while reducing environmental impacts and animal suffering.

For many policymakers, the discussion is not simply about whether cultivated meat can be produced at scale, but whether it can do so in a way that aligns with Europe’s social and ethical priorities. That includes ensuring rural livelihoods, preserving cultural connections to farming, and providing consumers with transparent, safe food options.

The event will also highlight the broader ethical case for cellular agriculture. Eurogroup For Animals’ Hameleers is expected to emphasize that reducing reliance on intensive animal farming aligns with EU commitments to animal welfare, while GAIA’s Vandenbosch will likely frame the technology as part of a compassionate and forward-looking food system.

From an innovation perspective, entrepreneurs such as Bogaerts and Post will address the technical and regulatory hurdles that remain. Scaling up cultivated meat and fish to market-competitive prices will require investment, supportive policy, and continued public engagement.

Ira van Eelen, a long-standing advocate for cultivated meat, will bring a perspective that blends ethics with entrepreneurship, drawing attention to the potential for cellular agriculture to create new economic models while dramatically lowering environmental footprints.

The Brussels Times is encouraging broad participation in the debate, which will be livestreamed for free on its website. Organizers stress that input from all stakeholders – farmers, scientists, policymakers, and the public – is essential to shaping a balanced approach.

The conversation will be supported by GAIA and will feature a short film from RESPECTfarms illustrating its vision for producing meat on farms using cells rather than animals. The film is intended to spark dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and farmers, fostering greater understanding of alternative production methods.

Ultimately, the debate aims to move beyond abstract discussions of technology and focus on the practical realities of integrating cellular agriculture into Europe’s food system in a way that supports, rather than disrupts, rural life.

By providing a platform where farmers’ voices are heard alongside those of scientists, advocates, and policymakers, the event seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and tradition – charting a path toward a more sustainable, ethical, and inclusive agricultural future.