Some vegans are sceptical about cultivated meat. They'll say we don't need it - that plants are enough. And they're right, strictly speaking. I've been vegan for 13 years; I'm doing fine.
But here's the reality: most people aren't going to become vegan. I haven't converted a single close friend or family member in all these years. Not even my wife.
This isn't because they don't care about animals. Most people do. They just don't want to give up foods they enjoy. I get it - I was the same before I saw behind the curtain of meat production.
That's why cultivated meat feels like such a breakthrough. It doesn't ask people to change their habits or compromise on taste. It just offers the same product, made differently.
Sure, the first products will be simple - burgers, nuggets, mince. We're years away from replicating more complex cuts. But it's a start.
For the first time, we have a solution that could appeal to everyone. Not just those willing to make sacrifices for their ethics.
And that's worth getting excited about.
