Cumberland County Beef Farmer Opposes Lab-Grown Meat as Pennsylvania Considers Ban

Cumberland County’s Bob Boyce, an 82-year-old beef farmer, is firmly against the introduction of lab-grown meat into the food market.

For nearly 40 years, Boyce and his wife have operated Lil’ Ponderosa Beef, a 180-acre farm that raises purebred Angus cattle on a natural diet. He believes that real, naturally-raised meat is far superior to the cultivated meat being developed in laboratories.

“We know that you can’t match the protein in a lab that your immune system works within the human body,” Boyce said, adding that lab-grown meat will likely need preservatives to stay fresh. He also doubts whether there is a real demand for lab-grown alternatives.

In 2023, the USDA approved the sale of lab-grown meat through two California-based companies.

While these products haven’t yet made it to grocery store shelves, state representative Tina Pickett introduced House Bill 2441 to ban such products in Pennsylvania before they enter the market.

Pickett argues that the bill would allow the state’s agricultural sector to have a greater say in the development of these products, prioritizing food safety.

Boyce supports the bill, emphasizing his belief that lab-grown meat is a “losing proposition” and unnecessary. “Ban it, so far as I’m concerned because you’ll save the people a lot of wasted money.”

However, despite support from Republican lawmakers, the bill has stalled in committee. Pickett plans to reintroduce it in the next legislative session, hoping it will gain the attention needed for consideration.

Similar bans have already been enacted in Florida and Alabama. The debate in Pennsylvania continues, with the agricultural industry keeping a close eye on the future of cultivated meat products.

Want to understand why traditional farmers like Bob Boyce oppose lab-grown alternatives? Head to our homepage for more on this heated food industry debate.