
David Kay on the emerging cultivated meat industry
About this episode
David Kay shares his experience as the first employee at Upside Foods, offering a deep dive into the cultivated meat industry's challenges, successes, and political landscape. As an animal advocate who entered the alternative protein space, he provides unique insights on depolarising the conversation around cultivated meat and building bipartisan support.›
• Difference between focusing on environmental/health versus animal welfare messaging
• David's journey from animal advocacy to becoming the first employee at Upside Foods
• How cultivated meat differs from plant-based products as "real meat" grown from cells
• Where hundreds of millions in investment funding goes in cultivated meat startups
• State-level bans on cultivated meat and fighting political polarisation
• How industry is organising through trade associations like AMPS Innovation
• Importance of elite institutions in normalising animal advocacy
• Recent FDA approval for Mission Barns' cultivated pork fat
Add David on LinkedIn to follow his work and learn more about his perspectives on the alternative protein industry.
Resources:
- Animal liberation book
- GFI website
- AgFunder – Elaine Watson
- Mission Barns FDA Approval
- David Kay LinkedIn
With thanks to Tom Felbar (Ambedo Media) for amazing video and audio editing!
Note: My (James') views here are my personal opinions and don't represent those of Coefficient Giving.
If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review us - it means a lot to us!
Get every episode summarized
Each time How I Learned to Love Shrimp publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from How I Learned to Love Shrimp

Jiri Krupa (& Jesse Marks) on using fundraising to win campaigns
How I Learned to Love Shrimp

Anne Hilhorst on hitting companies where it hurts
How I Learned to Love Shrimp

Toby Schiønning on "fair cop" and a new model for corporate campaigning
How I Learned to Love Shrimp

Seth Green on why reducing meat consumption is hard and what actually works
How I Learned to Love Shrimp