Precision fermentation uses microorganisms to produce animal proteins without animals. This technology could eliminate the welfare harms of dairy, eggs, and other animal products at scale.
Precision fermentation represents one of the most promising technological pathways to large-scale reduction of farm animal welfare harms. If dairy proteins produced without cows can achieve price parity and consumer acceptance, the economic incentive for dairy farming diminishes dramatically. This technology does not require animals to suffer — the fermentation process uses microorganisms as production platforms without causing them welfare harm (their sentience being considered negligible). Unlike plant-based alternatives, precision fermentation products can match the functional and sensory properties of animal products exactly, potentially reaching consumers who would not adopt plant-based alternatives. The welfare implications of successful scale-up are transformative.