The push for a ban on cultivated meat in Nebraska is moving forward, with such legislation being proposed in the state senate.
Gov. Jim Pillen, who is also a farmer, in August 2024, announced that he would be working with the state legislature on the matter.
On January 14, Pillen held a press conference where three bills he described as critical to preserving and protecting Nebraska agriculture were introduced. Among those was a bill to keep cultivated meat from being manufactured, distributed or sold in the state. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay, N-Niobrara.
The bill defines “cultivated food protein” and requires those products to be labeled “adulterated food products” under the Pure Food Act.
"There are clear, recognized benefits of meat as a source of protein. It is uncertain whether manufactured meat protein is a substitute for natural meat sources as essential dietary needs. I question elevating lab meat to a level of equivalency with real meat,” said Sen. DeKay.
“Until or unless there are clear labeling rules that adequately disclose that cultured meat is not real meat, its sale allows lab meats to unfairly benefit from industry investments in marketing and production. What’s more, this industry is supported by organizations that want to do away with animal production in Nebraska and the United States. This is part of the process that we’re going to go through to make sure our way of life, our livestock, and our product that we can put on the dinner table stays intact going forward."
Pillen left no doubt that he would sign the bill into law if it makes it through the senate.
“It's important we get on the offense so that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are not undermined,” Pillen said. “Our job is to protect consumers, grow agriculture and defend agriculture. Most of us want government out of our hair, but there are places where government needs to step in and protect us.”
Because Nebraska has a unicameral government with only a Senate and no House of Representatives, the bill only needs to be approved by the Senate before being advanced to the governor’s office.
