The World Farmers' Organization (WFO), representing over 1.2 billion farmers worldwide, has taken a firm stance against the adoption of lab-grown foods as an alternative to farmer-produced foods, as reported by PoultryWorld.

"No!

The World Farmers' Organization firmly opposes the replacement of farmer-grown foods with laboratory food products. Such substitutes disregard the work and contribution of farmers to sustainability and push consumers towards a homogenized food model that undermines the tradition, diversity, richness, quality, and uniqueness of regional food systems around the globe," the organization wrote on its website.

The World Farmers' Organization is a member-based association that brings together national farmer organizations and agricultural cooperatives from around the world.

In a recent position paper, the organization emphasizes the importance of sustainable agriculture and expresses concerns about the potential impact of lab-grown foods not only on food safety and human health but also on cultural heritage, livelihoods of agricultural communities, and global food security.

"Lab-grown food products [...] are supported by marketing campaigns that promote the myth of greater sustainability compared to agriculture," stated the World Farmers' Organization, adding that farmers "strongly reject this narrative lacking scientific evidence."

Food safety aspects of cell-based foods

This year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization published a report titled "Food Safety Aspects of Cell-Based Foods." The World Farmers' Organization claims that the report clearly shows that "there is no solid evidence to compare cell-based foods with those produced by farmers," adding that "there are still many considerations regarding its nutritional value and how it might affect long-term human health."

Regarding claims of using less land and water, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and having a lower risk of zoonotic diseases, the World Farmers' Organization states that such claims have not yet been proven.

Sustainable agriculture

The organization says that achieving sustainability involves embracing diverse agricultural systems, ensuring inclusivity and transparency, and promoting research and innovation while preserving tradition.

"The organization calls for collaboration between farmers, researchers, and stakeholders in the value chain to address future challenges, develop innovative practices, and provide sustainable solutions for producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food in a sustainable manner."