Italy's Ban on Lab-Grown Meat: Protecting Culinary Heritage and Livestock Industry

Italy's minister for food sovereignty and agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, has warned that lab-grown meats threaten Italian culture, identity, and civilization. The right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni has passed legislation banning lab-cultured meat, viewing it as an existential threat to traditional meat farming and rural ways of life. Critics argue that these measures are ideological propaganda and reflect a hostility towards globalization and modernity. Lollobrigida has introduced various patriotic measures to defend Italian culture and culinary heritage, including clear labeling for insect-derived flour and promoting the consumption of invasive species. The bill banning synthetic meats has been approved by the lower house of parliament, but concerns have been raised about its compatibility with EU law.