Brace yourselves for the political odd couple of the century – Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida have stumbled into a rare moment of agreement. Yes, you heard that right; they’re actually seeing eye-to-eye, or at least squinting in the same general direction, on the topic of lab-grown meat.
Governor DeSantis proudly wielded his pen to sign SB 1084 into law, effectively banning the sale of lab-grown meat in the Sunshine State. The law makes Florida the first state to ban lab-grown meat. The new law targets the manufacturing, selling, and distributing of meat cultivated in labs from cultured cells. DeSantis emphasized that this move was to protect local agriculture from what he described as the global elite’s push towards alternative protein sources to fulfill “authoritarian goals.” According to DeSantis, “Global elites want to control our behavior and push a diet of petri dish meat and bugs on Americans.”
In a rare display of agreement with the governor, Senator Fetterman took to X to echo similar sentiments, albeit in his straightforward style. He grudgingly tweeted his agreement with DeSantis, stating, “Pains me deeply to agree with Crash-and-Burn Ron, but I co-sign this. As a member of @SenateAgDems and as some dude who would never serve that slop to my kids, I stand with our American ranchers and farmers.” This rare bipartisan agreement underscores a shared commitment to supporting traditional farming and ranching communities.
Pains me deeply to agree with Crash-and-Burn Ron, but I co-sign this.
As a member of @SenateAgDems and as some dude who would never serve that slop to my kids, I stand with our American ranchers and farmers. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zZLYf8t5lI
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) May 2, 2024
The unlikely alliance between DeSantis and his counterpart, forged over their shared commitment to traditional meat farming, demonstrates a bipartisan effort to uphold the American beef industry against the “global elite’s” pursuit of lab-grown proteins.
The backlash against alternative proteins isn’t isolated. In 2021, Colorado Governor Jared Polis faced significant pushback after proclaiming March 20 as “Meatout Day,” urging residents to consider plant-based proteins. This initiative, aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing meat consumption, backfired spectacularly as Coloradans defiantly doubled down on their love for red meat.
For years, American ranchers have faced the daunting task of complying with federal regulations on climate change and animal welfare. These regulations have made it increasingly difficult for them to continue producing animal products such as beef, which has been a staple of the nation’s diet for generations. Despite their best efforts, ranchers are struggling to meet the demands of these regulations, which are often complex and time-consuming. Because of the above, ranchers are struggling to keep up.
Bipartisan efforts to address these issues are evident in the proposed Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act (H.R. 2814), spearheaded by Republican Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Democrat Representative Chellie Pingree from Maine. This legislation seeks to reduce federal restrictions on selling meat, allowing farmers and ranchers to sell directly to consumers, thus bypassing the need for USDA-inspected slaughterhouses, which can be prohibitively distant and costly for small-scale producers.
PRIME, aims to support local farmers and simplify the process of meat production and sales. The PRIME Act is especially relevant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the fragility of the meat supply chain and highlighted the importance of local food systems. The Act encourages a more sustainable, resilient, and community-driven approach to food production.
As the debate continues, it becomes increasingly clear that protecting traditional agriculture and accommodating innovations like lab-grown meat will require nuanced policies that balance environmental concerns, food safety, and economic impacts on rural communities. This unexpected alignment between Fetterman and DeSantis may pave the way for more focused legislative efforts to safeguard an industry integral to the American way of life and economy.
