Lab-Grown Meat in Supermarkets

The question

How to approach this discuss both views question

A discuss-both-views essay asks you to explain two opinions fairly and then give your own.

1. Introduce both views and say you will discuss them.
2. Paragraph 1: the first view with reasons and an example.
3. Paragraph 2: the second view with reasons and an example.
4. State your own opinion clearly (in the introduction or conclusion) and keep it consistent.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the sale of lab-grown meat in supermarkets, outline both views and state your own opinion.
2. Body 1: the supporters' view, focusing on animal welfare, land use and food security, with one specific example.
3. Body 2: the opponents' view, focusing on cost, taste, public trust and the effect on livestock farmers, with a concrete example.
4. Body 3: a nuanced point, such as the energy needed for production, which shows that environmental benefits are not automatic.
5. Conclusion: restate your opinion and name a practical condition, such as clear labelling and a transition plan for farmers.

Idea bank

• Animal welfare: cultivated meat avoids raising and slaughtering animals, which could reduce suffering in intensive farming systems.
• Singapore approved a lab-grown chicken product in December 2020, which is an early example of a government allowing sale after safety review.
• Environment: production may need less land than livestock farming, but the bioreactors use a lot of energy, so the carbon benefit depends on the power source.
• Price: early products cost far more than conventional meat, so most shoppers would not buy them until costs fall.
• Trust: some consumers worry that the product is 'unnatural', so clear labelling is needed for shoppers to make an informed choice.
• Farmers: livestock farmers and rural communities could lose income, so governments may need a transition plan that supports them.

Useful vocabulary

• cultivated meat: Cultivated meat is grown from animal cells rather than raised on farms.
• animal welfare: Supporters argue that the product improves animal welfare by avoiding slaughter.
• a bioreactor: Cells are grown in a bioreactor before being shaped into meat products.
• to approve for sale: Regulators approved the product for sale after safety testing.
• to stock alongside: Some supermarkets now stock the product alongside conventional meat.
• a carbon footprint: Its carbon footprint depends on the energy used to run the production facility.
• to be priced out: Shoppers on lower incomes may be priced out of the market for now.
• clear labelling: Clear labelling would let shoppers choose confidently.
• to scale up production: Companies must scale up production to bring costs down.
• to undermine livestock farmers: Critics argue that the product could undermine livestock farmers.

Common mistakes

• Presenting lab-grown meat as clearly better for the environment without noting the energy needed for production.
• Confusing lab-grown meat with plant-based alternatives such as tofu or pea protein products.
• Writing both views without showing which paragraph represents each view.
• Stating an opinion that is unclear about whether you accept the product or only the idea of it.
• Quoting production figures from memory instead of using general, accurate points.

Examiner tip: Label each body paragraph's view in the topic sentence, give both views equal depth, then finish with a clear opinion and a practical condition such as clear labelling.