EU-backed accelerator co-funds first-of-its-kind cultivated meat farm

The Netherlands – The EU has backed the world’s first cultivated meat farm, with EIT Food awarding £1.7m ($2.4, €2m) to the Cellular Revolution in Agriculture and Farming Technology (Craft) Consortium.

Anchored by farmer participation, the project reflects shifting consumer trust – 27% of Europeans say they trust farmers to ensure cultivated meat safety, compared with just 11% for retailers or private companies (source: Euroconsumers).

Craft aims to integrate cultivated meat into real farms, embedding production alongside livestock and crops to create resilient, decentralised food systems. As RespectFarms co-founder Ralf Becks put it: ‘Craft boils down a world problem to farm size. Once it works, we scale this out to the world.’

The sustainability potential is significant – cultivated meat could cut water use by 78%, land use by 95% and emissions by 92% (source: Green Queen). For farmers, it offers diversification without abandoning heritage.

Head to our Cultivated Meat Market report to explore how sustainability concerns, fine dining and protein initiatives are redefining the lab-grown meat industry.