Florida legislators have been quietly working to ban and criminalize the production and sale of cell-cultivated meat across the state, via the introduction of two bills.
Florida state Rep. Tyler Sirois, the Republican who introduced a similar bill, HB 1071, told Politico that his major motivation is protecting the cattle industry. “Farming and cattle are incredibly important industries to Florida,” Sirois stated, adding, "So I think this is a very relevant discussion for our state to have.”
I don't agree with him on the policy, but I'll give him this: that's more honest than most people advocating for creating protectionist barriers to protect incumbent food producers that I've seen.
Usually there's something about how it's potentially deadly or maybe waving around "concerns" about whether there'd be food security in a global famine or something.
It's also a very stupid take. If that's what he thinks, then he should finance farms that transition from growing animals to growing whatever is needed in this more modern and civilised world, like high protein legumes and that sort of stuff used in producing new generation foods.
Honestly, I didn't even think that Florida was big in the cattle industry. I mean, I know it's flat land, but I kind of associate cattle with the Great Plains.
Yeah, Florida is the third most populous state, but the ninth-largest beef producer. I don't think there are per-state import/export stats, but unless people in Florida consume less beef than the typical American, it seems like Florida is probably a net beef importer -- it'd be disadvantageous for Florida to have a protected market.
That being said, political economy is complicated, so maybe there's something else going on.