LAB-GROWN STEAKS

Consumers are already tucking into lab-grown burgers – now scientists have succeeded in producing the world’s first steaks that don’t require the slaughter of an animal.

Biotechnologists at Israeli startup company Aleph Farms harvested cells from two living cows then set to work making the cells multiply. Petri dishes containing the cells were placed in special incubators which perfectly imitate conditions inside a cow’s body. The resulting cells were then combined and – voila! – they produced steak. But the boffins say they still need to do more work to achieve a truly realistic flavour.

The steaks take three weeks to produce and are about the size of a credit card. They’re expected to go on sale within the next two years at a cost of around $50 (about R700) each. But as the technology improves and they become quicker to make the price will probably come down.