Advancing Cellular Agriculture: An Interview with Dr. Bianca Le
A look at the industry in Australia and beyond
Taking cellular agriculture mainstream requires not only raising awareness amongst consumers, but also inspiring and facilitating the participation of entrepreneurs, academics, and governments. Making this a reality is Dr. Bianca Le’s mission and I’m pleased to share an interview on the topic with her in this issue of Cultured Meat News.
For readers who aren’t familiar with what cellular agriculture is, it’s the production of agricultural products from cell cultures rather than animals (i.e. removing the animals from the equation, aside from the initial harvesting of the cells), and this of course includes cultured meat.
Our guest is a cell biologist and the Executive Director of Cellular Agriculture Australia. As a science communicator and knowledge broker, Bianca specializes in bridging the gaps between academia, industry, and government through evidence-based policy and effective science journalism.
In this interview she talks about her work in support of cellular agriculture in Australia, and shares her take on some of the biggest issues facing the space globally.
For those who aren’t familiar with you or Cellular Agriculture Australia, can you share what got you interested in this space, and what your mission is with the organization?
I was drawn to cellular agriculture partly due to my background as a cell biologist, but also because the technology is such an effective and simple way to solve so many of the world's pressing problems from climate change, to antimicrobial resistance, to mass animal suffering, to zoonotic diseases… you get more bang for your buck! I founded Cellular Agriculture Australia because there was a clear need to build both the public and private cell ag research sectors simultaneously. We do so by (1) developing talent pipelines into the sector, (2) fostering a collaborative and connected community, and (3) promoting public awareness of cellular agriculture to Australians.
While awareness about this space is indeed growing, it still has a long way to go. What are some of the most important things to know for those unfamiliar with cellular agriculture?
Cellular agriculture is one of the only solutions to climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and mass animal suffering that will bring together meat eaters and vegans, grass roots activists and large corporations, environmentalists and tech giants. There's a spot on the table for everyone, no matter your motive or interests.
Many people are looking for ways to get involved in this space, but don’t know how to break in. What advice would you give to those who want to get involved?
Check out our free online Pathways tool! Once you've done that, chat with us by joining our public slack channel. We also have lots of Useful Resources on our website that'll help interested students or industry professionals get involved.
You started Cellular Agriculture Australia to advance cellular agriculture in Australia - what advantages does Australia have when it comes to this industry, and what unique role do you see it playing in the industry on a global scale?
Australia is one of the world leaders in stem cell research and is globally renowned for its animal agriculture sector. Cellular agriculture happens to lie at the intersection of stem cell research and animal agriculture. We have the relevant expertise, infrastructure, supporting organizations, and consumer trust that is necessary in order for a cellular agriculture industry to thrive.
Australia already has a number of companies that have been founded to tackle the challenges of cellular agriculture. Is there anything that stands out about them from others you’ve seen across the globe?
Generally, it is very interesting to see the diversity between the seven cellular agriculture startups - none of them are directly competing against one another. Although the industry is relatively small, we already have startups covering the production of cultured meat, serum free media, scaffolds, fats, dairy and human breast milk. This showcases the breadth and potential of Australia's capabilities in cellular agriculture.
It may be some time before cultured meat is given regulatory approval in Australia, while other countries seem to be gearing up for their own approvals in the near future. What can private citizens and organizations like yours do to support or accelerate this process?
We've founded the International Cellular Agriculture Nonprofit Consortium - a way for all the nonprofits around the world to answer this very question. Many of the organizations and nonprofits are focusing their efforts towards advocacy and education - these activities could be targeted towards conscious consumers to create the demand for cultured meat, politicians to endorse the industry, students and jobseekers to create the workforce, or the animal agriculture sector to encourage collaboration rather than competition.
While cultured meat has come a long way in some respects, it still faces a host of challenges. As a cell biologist, what do you see as some of the most pressing of these?
Getting more academics involved, full stop! The ratio of university researchers vs industry researchers is far too low for any real progress to occur… particularly since many of the problems that cellular agriculture can solve are incredibly time sensitive.
What’s the best way for someone to learn more about you and the work you’re doing in this industry?
There are three ways! Sign up to our bimonthly newsletter (we promise we won't spam you!), follow us on any of the social media platforms (@cellagaustralia.org), and join our public Slack channel to meet others in the field!