Animal Bodies and Futures: Rethinking Ethical Implications of Cultivated Meat and Fish

Abstract This paper critically examines the ethical discourse surrounding cultivated meat and fish, arguing that it has largely remained confined to theoretical or speculative discussions, neglecting the practical and evolving implications of this emerging technology—particularly in relation to the continued involvement of animals in its production. I demonstrate that a significant gap exists in the assessment of the impact on animal bodies during cell harvesting and cultivation, leading to a distorted or incomplete understanding of the normative dimensions of this innovation. The paper further addresses the often-overlooked issue of “animal futures,” particularly the treatment of animals post-biopsy, and the ethical concerns surrounding the breeding of animals specifically for stem cell production. It critiques the lack of foresight in current ethical discussions, which fail to adequately consider the long-term lives of animals involved in the production of cultivated meat. Advocating for a more comprehensive ethical framework, the paper calls for a deeper, more nuanced consideration of both the immediate and future welfare of these animals. In doing so, the paper stresses that ethical reflection should not be an afterthought but an integral part of technological development—one that must influence both its design and its evolution. Through this analysis, the paper aims to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on the ethics of cultivated meat, urging a rethinking of the relationship between technological progress and animal welfare and rights.