Lab-Grown Meat: Gen Z Are Ready to Take a Bite Out of the Future

The Stats: Gen Z Is Leading the Charge

Let’s get into the numbers. The Ipsos survey, run in June 2025, asked over 1,000 UK adults about their appetite for cultivated meat. The results? A cool 47% of Gen Z (aged 16-29) said they’d try it if it was widely available. Millennials trailed at 39%, while Gen X and Boomers barely hit 22%. The message is clear: the younger you are, the more likely you are to see a future where meat doesn’t have to come from animals at all.

Over half of all British adults (58%) say they know little or nothing about lab-grown meat. That means Gen Z isn’t just leading the way; they’re also the ones most willing to learn and experiment. For producers and policymakers, this is a golden opportunity to shape perceptions before the myths and memes take over.

Why Gen Z Is Open to Lab-Grown Meat

So, what’s got Gen Z hyped enough to chew on something brewed in a bioreactor? Ipsos says a third love that cultivated meat skips animal slaughter. It’s also a climate win – less land, less pollution, fewer emissions. Growing up with TikTok exposés on factory farming and climate strikes, you’re wired to rethink food systems. Add in the hope of fewer animal-borne diseases, and you’ve got a recipe for curiosity.

Thanks to loud voices like Greta Thunberg, Gen Z has grown up with climate activism. A 2024 study found 87% of UK/US Gen Z are open to lab-grown meat with clear info, proving transparency is key. Your Gen Flow sees this as a guilt-free way to eat.

But Wait – Not Everyone’s Sold

Let’s keep it real: not everyone’s ready to swap their Sunday roast for a petri-dish burger. The same survey found that 48% worry about the long-term health impacts, and 42% think it’s just “unnatural.” Price is another stumbling block – one in four say it’s simply too expensive right now.

Gen Z might be open-minded, but they’re not gullible eejits. They want to know what’s in their food, how it’s made, and whether it’s safe. They want transparency, not marketing spin. And they want these options to be affordable and accessible, not just another eco-luxury for the privileged few.

It’s also worth noting that attitudes aren’t universal. In Australia, for example, a University of Sydney and Curtin University study found that 72% of Gen Z were not ready to accept lab-grown meat, even though many acknowledged its environmental benefits. For some, the “yuck” factor is real, and food is still about tradition, comfort, and identity.

Culture Clash: Food, Identity, and the Second-Gen Experience

For second-gen Gen Z in Ireland, food is your story – think curry and colcannon, Eid and St. Patrick’s Day. Lab-grown meat lands right in that mix. Can it be halal or kosher? Fit into Mam’s recipes? For some, it’s a game-changer, letting you honour ethics without losing flavour. For others, it might feel like a step too far from what’s familiar. That’s why the conversation needs to be open, honest, and inclusive.

And let’s not forget: Gen Z is the most diverse generation yet. For many second-gen youth, food is a way to keep heritage alive while also embracing the future. Lab-grown meat could be a bridge – if it’s made with respect for culture and transparency about how it fits into different dietary laws and traditions.

What Needs to Change? Trust, Access, and Representation

If lab-grown meat wants Gen Z’s plate, the industry better step up:

• Transparency: Show how it’s made, what’s in it, and how it’s safe.
• Affordability: Keep it real—no elite price tags.
• Culture: Respect dietary laws and family traditions.
• Sustainability: Prove the eco claims with hard data.

Ipsos says there’s a “growth market” for cultivated meat among youth, but only if it’s inclusive. So, invite second-gen voices to shape the convo, not just consume it.

Is Lab-Grown Meat the Future? The Market Says Yes

The numbers don’t lie – venture capital is pouring into lab-grown meat, and the market is expected to reach nearly $2 billion by 2035. The biggest demand? Beef and nuggets, according to recent forecasts. But psychological barriers, regulatory questions, and the rise of plant-based alternatives mean the journey won’t be smooth.

Still, the fact that nearly half of Gen Z are ready to give it a try is a wake-up call for the entire food system. This is a generation that wants food to be ethical, sustainable, and – yes – delicious. Lab-grown meat could be part of that story, but only if it’s done right.

Gen Z Is Ready for Change

Lab-grown meat isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But the fact that nearly half of Gen Z are open to it shows a willingness to think differently, to challenge the status quo, and to imagine new possibilities for food, culture, and the planet. Whether you’re ready to take a bite or still on the fence, one thing’s for sure: the future of food is coming, and Gen Z will be at the table – shaping the menu, one bold choice at a time.

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