Abstract

«Cultured meat» has sparked a lively and polarized debate in Italy. Hailed by some animal rights groups as a biotechnological solution to the exploitation of animals, attacked by farmers’ unions as a means of destroying a centuries-old production system, it is fair to say that it has not left much room for indifference. In order to disentangle a debate that often focuses only on the actuality and future potential of this biotechnology, this article examines some of the historical-philosophical aspects surrounding it. By analyzing the relationship between ‘cultured meat’ and animal and biotechnological issues, this contribution aims to raise some questions about the political bearing of this commodity and the public discourse surrounding it.