Letters | Cellular engineering could be the future of leather production
- Readers discuss a sustainable alternative to animal agriculture, and central bank policy
For example, the leather industry is notorious for its unethical practices and environmental impact. Apart from the slaughter of animals, traditional leather production adversely affects the environment due to the use of large amounts of water, toxic chemicals and the release of greenhouse gases.
With cellular engineering, cultured skin cells can be transformed into leather through the tanning process. However, unlike with traditional animal skins, the tanning process is simpler because the cultivation process has eliminated the unnecessary parts of animal hides. Moreover, cultivated skin is customisable. Controlling the growth conditions and nutrient sources makes it possible to produce leather with specific properties, such as thickness, texture and colour.
Thus, Singapore’s investment in the research and development of cellular engineering is paying dividends beyond what was anticipated. But some of the challenges that lie ahead include overcoming the high production costs of cellular engineering, as well as the costs of bioreactor equipment and facility infrastructure.
By diversifying how cellular engineering is applied, better price parity can be gained in the longer run. For instance, food production needs to meet a low price point, whereas fashion and luxury customers spend more. The industry also needs to navigate the complex and varied regulations across different countries and regions. Overcoming these bottlenecks and hurdles still requires significant research and development, as well as investment in infrastructure and equipment.
As the technology improves and economies of scale are achieved, the cost of cell-based products will decrease, and their applications will increase, thus making them a viable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional animal agriculture.