Mission, Vision, and Goals

A doctoral student shows a gel matrix used to grow cells in the Cellular Agriculture lab

Mission

Tufts University has established this center to accelerate cellular agriculture research. We plan to work closely with students and faculty across disciplines within our ecosystem at Tufts, as well as with other universities and colleges and with industry and regulators, to foster the growth of this burgeoning industry. We aim to provide a solid scientific foundation via published, peer-reviewed data, bring innovation in technology, provide consistency in quality measures to guide the field, and foster workforce development and broader educational impact.

Vision

The Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture’s vision is to work with stakeholders to build foundational technologies and foster consumer and government understanding and trust in novel and alternative agricultural products. The Center will leverage Tufts University’s interdisciplinary expertise in biomedical engineering, biology and chemistry, nutrition, food safety, consumer acceptance, socio-economic impact, veterinary medicine, medicine, lifecycle analysis, and other activities.

Our vision is to establish the world’s first university-wide cellular agriculture program that emphasizes interdisciplinary research and coursework to help establish a scientific foundation for the field while addressing workforce development to support the needs in this growing industry.

Goals

  • Develop and characterize novel technologies such as bioreactors, input materials, production processes, and cell lines for cellular agriculture and cultured meat production
  • Enhance testing and validation of new technologies and products through industrial partnerships
  • Develop standards for safety and nutrition of products and technologies
  • Evaluate the impact of these technologies on consumers and the environment
  • Reduce the cost of cellular agriculture