| Consumer acceptance- Taste and texture: Many consumers still prefer the taste and texture of traditional meat (Giezenaar et al., 2024).- Perception: Some consumers view meat alternatives as overly processed or unnatural (Ford et al., 2024). | Environmental benefits- Sustainability: Meat alternatives generally have a lower environmental footprint compared to traditional meat (Samad et al., 2024a).- Resource efficiency: Producing plant-based and cultured meat uses fewer resources like water and land (Samad et al., 2024c). |
| Supply chain issues- Ingredient sourcing: Ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality ingredients can be difficult (Zhao et al., 2022).- Distribution: Efficiently distributing perishable products globally poses logistical challenges (Zhao et al., 2022). | Health benefits- Nutritional advantages: Many meat alternatives offer health benefits, such as lower cholesterol and fat content (Bakhsh et al., 2021a).- Dietary preferences: They cater to various dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian diets (Bakhsh et al., 2021a). |
| Production costs- High costs: Producing cultured meat and high-quality plant-based meat can be expensive (Samad et al., 2024c).- Scaling up: Scaling production to meet global demand while maintaining quality is challenging (Samad et al., 2024c). | Technological advancements- Innovation: Advances in biotechnology and food science are continuously improving the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of meat alternatives (Samad et al., 2024c).- New products: Ongoing research is leading to the development of new and improved products (Samad et al., 2024c). |
| Regulatory hurdles- Approval processes: Gaining regulatory approval for new products, especially cultured meat, can be lengthy and complex (Martins et al., 2024).- Labeling: There are ongoing debates about how meat alternatives should be labeled. | Market growth- Increasing demand: There is growing consumer interest in sustainable and ethical food options (Bakhsh et al., 2021a).- Investment: Significant investments are being made in the sector, driving innovation and expansion (Samad et al., 2024c). |