IEA Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh has written for CapX criticising Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ new ban on lab-grown meat.

Matthew wrote:

“Perhaps the real issue here is insecurity on behalf of the meat sector. Interestingly, in the statement announcing the signing, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson added that ‘Lab-grown meat is a disgraceful attempt to undermine our proud traditions and prosperity, and is in direct opposition to authentic agriculture’. Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman came out as a surprise defender of DeSantis’ ban, saying that, ‘as a member of [the Senate Agriculture Committee] and as some dude who would never serve that slop to my kids, I stand with our American ranchers and farmers’.

“This explains the ban in simpler public choice terms. There’s an existing industry that sees competition down the line and does not much like the idea. It’s not unprecedented, it is just another case of a sectional interest getting a political victory rather than through competing on equal terms.

“Here we are, with a governor wanting to fight a culture war and placate an interest group seeking to stifle innovation and choice. It’s hardly a recipe for freedom and prosperity.”

Read Matthew’s full piece here or on the IEA Blog.

You can also read Matthew’s 2023 paper, Bangers and Cash: Cutting red tape to put Britain at the centre of the cultivated meat revolution.