Agricultural production reports from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat with SB 1084, DeSantis Defends Agriculture

May 2, 2024, 02:23 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed SB 1084, a controversial bill that bans the sale and manufacturing of lab-grown meat in the state, positioning it as a measure to protect traditional agriculture and the cattle industry from what he describes as an ideological agenda aimed at eliminating meat production. The legislation, which also includes provisions to preempt local regulation of electric vehicle charging stations, has sparked a heated debate. Critics argue that the ban on lab-grown meat, a first in the nation, represents a step back from innovation and infringes on consumer freedom. Supporters, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida State Sen. Jay Collins, who stated, "In Florida - beef: it's what's for dinner," celebrate it as a victory for the agricultural sector, emphasizing the importance of supporting traditional meat production and local farmers. DeSantis emphasized, "They want to create protein in laboratories. We stand with agriculture. We stand with the cattle ranchers, we stand with our farmers. Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere."