>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK NOW WITH A GROWING NEW DEBATE.
NOW THIS MAY LOOK LIKE YOUR AVERAGE CHICKEN FILET, BUT IT
ACTUALLY SELL CULTIVATED MEAT EMERGING TECHNIQUE WHERE MEAT
IS DEVELOPED IN THE MAIL CONTAINER JUST LIKE THIS FROM A
SAMPLE OF ANIMAL CELLS AND DOES NOT REQUIRE KILLING ANIMALS.
PROPONENTS OF THE MET ITS 8 ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE PROTEIN
OPTION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THEY ALSO ARGUE THERE ARE
GEOPOLITICAL INCENTIVES TO INVEST IN THE TECHNOLOGY AS THE
US'S MAIN COMPETITION IN THIS SPACE RIGHT NOW IS CHINA,
WHICH IS RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR CULTIVATED MEAT
INDUSTRY. BUT FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS SAYING HE'S
AGAINST LAB GROWN MEAT AND FLORIDA SHOULD BE AS WELL.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING A BILL TO TO TRY TO
PROTECT ARMY. YOU NEED ME. OKAY. AND FOR WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE MEAT IN FLORIDA LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO. WE'RE GOING TO
DEATH. FAKE MEAT LIKE THAT DOESN'T WORK. SO WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE SURE TO DO IT RIGHT.
>> AND FLORIDA SENATE PASSED A BILL LAST MONTH BANNING AND
CRIMINALIZING THE SALE OF LAB GROWN MEAT. GOVERNOR DESANTIS
STILL YET TO SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW. BUT THE MOVE COMES AS
SIMILAR EFFORTS TO BAN THE PRODUCT HAD BEEN MADE IN OTHER
STATES INCLUDING ALABAMA, ARIZONA AND TENNESSEE. FOR MORE
ON THIS GROWING DEBATE, I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY TOM ROSS
MAISEL. HE'S THE HEAD OF GLOBAL MARKETING AT GOOD MEET ONE OF
JUST 2 CULTIVATED MEAT COMPANIES IN THE U.S. THAT HAVE
BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. AND
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN BLACK, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF
FLORIDA'S THAT STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT AN IMPORTANT.
BUT HERE HE'S ALSO A CATTLE RANCHER. WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR
JOINING TOP STORY TONIGHT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A
SPIRITED DEBATE. TOM, I'M GOING TO PLAY A VIDEO FOR OUR VIEWERS
NOW THAT ARE GREAT DIRECTORS GOING TO ROLL AND WE WALK OUR
VIEWERS THROUGH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE. SO THE MEATS
BUILT ERROR ASSEMBLED BY GUEST IN THESE METAL CONTAINERS.
AND THEN IT COMES OUT. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A A FILET, RIGHT?
I MEAN, IF I WERE TO BUY THAT AT THE GROCERY STORE WOULD KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE
AFTER IT'S COOKED. LOOK, IT LOOKS LIKE A CHICKEN FILLET.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
>> IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN. I MEAN, IT'S REAL NEED DIDN'T
RISE UP. AND LAKE MEAD IT SMELLS LIKE NEED. IT LOOKS LIKE
ME. IT'S ME. IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO CHICKEN, YOU'LL BE ALLERGIC
TO OUR CHICKEN. THE NUTRITIONALS ARE ARE ALMOST
IDENTICAL. AND THE PROCESS STARTS. LIKE YOU SAID BY TAKING
A SAMPLE OF CELLS FROM AN ANIMAL.
I'M PUTTING IT INTO A BIOREACTOR WHICH LOOKS LIKE A
LARGE BEER BREWERY AS YOU SHOWED THERE AND YOU LET THEM
CELLS MULTIPLY. YOU FEED THE CELLS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT AN
ANIMAL FEED ITS OWN CELLS. SO WATER, YOU KNOW, ACIDS,
LIBYANS, VITAMINS, FATS,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> AND SO SO REPRESENTATIVE BLACK, I WANT TO ASK YOU YOUR
RANCH. AS WE MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY, LAB GROWN MEAT.
NOT GREAT FOR YOUR BOTTOM LINE, BUT AMERICA COMPETITION IS WHAT
MAKES OUR PRODUCTS AND BUSINESSES SO STRONG. SO WHAT'S
YOUR BEEF WITH THIS NEW BEEF?
>> WELL, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME THAT THAT WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACT
WHATSOEVER ON OUR BOTTOM LINE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S
MUCH OF A MARKET FOR IT. BUT THE OPERATIVE WORD IN WHAT
THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID WAS THAT IT'S VERY NEARLY CHICKEN.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO CHICKEN. IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL. AND IT'S
THE ALMOST BIG ISSUE THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT IDENTICAL.
THERE ARE CERTAIN
MICRO NUTRIENTS THAT EXIST IN REAL NEED THAT WE KNOW ARE
IMPORTANT TO HUMAN NUTRITION. AND ALTHOUGH THE FDA HAS SAID
THAT THIS TYPE OF PRODUCT IS SAFE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S
HEALTHY. AND IN FLORIDA, WE DON'T WANT OUR CITIZENS USED AS
GUINEA PIGS. WE THINK RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS FINE.
BUT WE THINK A LOT OF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE SAY
THIS IS GOING TO REPLACE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HUMAN
DIET.
>> TOM, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? WHAT YOUR RESPONSE?
>> YEAH. I MEAN, WE SPENT 3 PLUS YEARS WORKING WITH THE
USDA AND FDA TO ENSURE THAT EAT IS SAFE. WE WENT THROUGH THAT
PROCESS. WE SHARED SAFETY DOSSIERS. WE HAD A BACK AND
FORTH BETWEEN REGULATORS. WE WORK THROUGH A FRAMEWORK
STARTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH THE USDA
AND FDA
TO GET OUR PRODUCT TO MARKET.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THAT TO ENSURE THAT IT'S SAFE AND
HEALTHY FOR CONSUMERS. THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE STARTED
THIS PROCESS. THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WE RECEIVE IN THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE 0. SO WE DIDN'T ASK WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM
THEM ONCE ABOUT CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE MAKE OUR
PRODUCT OR WHAT'S IN IT
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS ISN'T ABOUT SAFETY. THIS IS THIS IS A
CULTURE WAR. THIS IS POLITICS AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR
FLORIDA. WHAT CULTURE AND POLITICS WOULD BE AT PLAY HERE.
I MEAN, YOU SHOULD ASK REPRESENTATIVE BLACK, THERE ARE
NO CREDIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT THIS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF IF POLITICIANS WANT TO SAY,
HEY, WE DON'T LIKE THIS MEET,
THAT MAY PLAY WELL, SOME CONSUMERS, BUT, YOU KNOW,
ULTIMATELY CONSUMERS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT ME THEY WANT TO BUY
OR NOT BUY. AND THEN YEAH.
>> THOMAS, THIS SHOW, DOES THE COUNTRY NEED THIS RIGHT NOW AND
AND IS IS WHAT JEREMY BE MORE AFFORDABLE? I MEAN, I MEAN,
GIVE ME THE TOP 3 REASONS WHY AMERICA NEEDS US RIGHT NOW.
>> IF YOUR QUESTION, YES, SO THAT THE NUMBER ONE REASONS
ENVIRONMENTAL. SO WE'RE GROWING JUST THE NEED THAT IS CONSUMED
BY CONSUMER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE KOREAN TEST IN OR FOR OR
TENDONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW NEED MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN
THE CONVENTIONAL WAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, THE PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLANET ARE
GOING TO DOUBLE BETWEEN NOW AND 2050. SO ADDING ANOTHER TOOL TO
BE ABLE TO SUSTAINABLY, MAKE PROTEINS GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT. IT'S NOT GOING TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL ME.
WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT. CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT EXPECTED
FROM THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. BUT CONSUMERS SHOULD DECIDE
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GROCERY STORE IN DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF
SAFE AND APPROVE ME THEY WANT
RIGHT NOW AS A CHEAPER OR MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REGULAR MATE.
YEAH. RIGHT NOW IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
STEPS TO IN ORDER TO SCALE OUR TECHNOLOGY. IT'S GOING TO TAKE
A LOT OF TIME TO GET THERE. BUT THAT'S TRUE OF OF ALL NEW
INDUSTRIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN PARS CAME OUT THERE, VERY EXPENSIVE
CELL PHONES, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, YOU NAME IT. THERE'S ALWAYS A
PROCESS WHEN YOU'RE SCALING UP A NEW TECHNOLOGY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DEAN BLACK, I SHOULD SAY, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT WAS
A RANCHER. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CATTLE.
YOU ALSO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LAND AND TURNING OVER THAT
GRASS AND TURNING OVER EVERYTHING ELSE THEY EAT THAT'S
GOT TO BE DIFFICULT AND COSTLY ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS RIGHT NOW?
>> I WILL SAY THIS.
MY CONCERN REALLY IS NOT AROUND PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY.
I HAVE 2 BROAD CONCERNS. ONE IS SAFETY. AND I'D LIKE TO
CORRECT A MISSTATEMENT MADE EARLIER. THAT WAS THAT THE FDA
AND PROVEN THAT IT WAS SAFE AND HEALTHY. THE FDA DOESN'T
ACTUALLY CERTIFY SOMETHING IS HEALTHY. THEY WILL TELL YOU
THAT FRIED ICE CREAM DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE IS SAFE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HEALTHY, THOUGH, IF YOU MAKE THAT A
REGULAR PART OF YOUR DIET.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN COMES IN BECAUSE WE HAVE A
MICRO NUTRIENTS THAT ARE PART OF NATURAL BEEF. THEY COME FROM
THE PLANTS THAT THE ANIMALS E AND THESE ARE NUTRIENTS THAT
WE'RE STILL DISCOVERING. THE FIELD OF HUMAN NUTRITION IS
STILL AN ONGOING FIELD OF STUDY AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ALL
OF THESE NUTRIENTS ARE AND IT'S THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM
TO BE REPLICATED IN IN VITRO ME LIKE THIS. WE HAVEN'T STUDIED
WHAT IT WOULD DO TO PREGNANT MOTHERS. AND I COULD JUST GO ON
AND ON AND ON. THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
STILL TO BE DONE. AND I DO AGREE THAT IN ORDER FOR IT TO
BE COMPETITIVE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE SCALED UP. AND IF YOU
SCALE THIS UP, THAT BRINGS UP MY SECOND OBJECTION, WHICH
PARTY AND STU CHINA
LOOK, COMMUNIST CHINA AND COMMUNIST COUNTRIES HAVE A
HISTORY OF COLLECTIVE ISE ING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION
AND THEY USE THAT TO CONTROL THEIR POPULATIONS. AND FOR THIS
TO MAKE SENSE, IT WILL HAVE TO BE CONCENTRATED AND LARGE
FACTORIES.
AND LOOK, WE ARE IN A VERY TENSE GEOPOLITICAL TIME WITH
CHINA, NORTH KOREA, IRAN.
AND IF YOU CONCENTRATE YOUR PROTEIN PRODUCTION IN A FEW
MAJOR FACTORIES, YOU'RE A FEW MISSILE STRIKES FROM AN INSTANT
FAMINE. RIGHT NOW IN OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM,
OUR PROTEIN PRODUCTION IS DISPERSED ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE IT ALL OUT. IN FACT,
WE'VE BEEN THE BREAD BASKET OF THE EARTH DURING WORLD WARS.
WE HELP TO FEED NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT OUR ALLIES IN WAR
TIME. I THINK WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN 3 AND A HALF YEARS OF
RESEARCH IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME TO DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE 6,000 YEARS OF AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND THROW
IT IN THE WASTE BASKET.
WE HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS AND THERE ARE REAL NATIONAL
SECURITY CONCERNS.
>> THAT OUGHT TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT. TOM. REAL QUICK IS THE
RIGHT TIME. I'LL GIVE THE LAST WORD HERE.
>> YEAH, LOOK, I MEAN THAT DATE THE USDA IS EQUIPPED TO ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS. THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS NOT EQUIPPED TO
ANALYZE THE SAFETY OF EVERY FOOD PRODUCT THAT ENTERS OUR
SYSTEM. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT I DID NOT
ANALYZE THAT AND YOUR JOB TODAY IS GETTING A LICENSE, A GOOD 3
PLUS YEARS. AND WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND THEN ON A NATIONAL SECURITIES. I WANT
TO ANSWER ANOTHER QUESTION, A NATIONAL SECURITY. I MEAN,
IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING. CHINA HAS THIS IN THEIR PLAN TO
THE YARD ACTIVELY DEVELOPING THIS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE NEED
MORE SOURCE OF PROTEIN. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO REPLACE
CONVENTIONAL MEAT PRODUCTION. BUT HAVING ANOTHER TOOL TO
ADDRESS RISING DEMAND FOR PROTEIN IS A GOOD THING FOR A
COUNTRY. IT INCREASES OUR FOOD. SECURITY IS A COUNTRY.
>> TOM RICE MAISEL, REPRESENTATIVE DEAN BLACK FROM
FLORIDA. WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING TOP STORY TONIGHT.
A FASCINATING CONVERSATION. I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.