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The Unjournal · Pivotal Questions Initiative

Cultivated Meat: Cost Trajectories & Welfare Implications

An Unjournal Workshop on Techno-Economic Analyses, Commercial Viability, and Animal Welfare ROI

Target: April 2026 · Fully online · ~2 hours of live sessions + asynchronous participation

Following our evaluation of Rethink Priorities' cultured meat forecasting work and ongoing TEA evaluations, this workshop explores what the evidence tells us about cultivated meat's cost trajectory and its implications for animal welfare funding decisions.

Pivotal Questions Initiative → EA Forum: CM Viability → Metaculus Questions → RP Evaluation →
Note: This workshop is still in early planning. We're gathering initial interest and availability. Final dates and agenda will be confirmed once we have responses from key participants.
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About You

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When Could You Join?

All fields in this section are optional — use whichever is easiest. Even a rough sense of your availability helps.

This is the easiest option — just describe when you're free in April. We'll use AI to find the best overlap across everyone. Include your time zone if it's not obvious.

Click cells for any time blocks you could join. Click a date to select that row, a time header to select that column, or a week label to select the whole week. All times US Eastern; hover for UK/CET.

Tip: You don't need to fill in the grid if you've described your availability above — either or both is fine.

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Which Potential Segments Interest You?

All fields in this section are optional. You don't need to attend the full session — indicate your interest in passive or active participation for each segment. Click ☆ to cycle through priority levels: ★ (interested) or ★★ (high priority). (more about each segment)

Stakeholder Context (~15 min): Why cultivated meat cost matters for animal welfare funders—how cost trajectories affect funding decisions between CM investment and other interventions.
TEA Evidence Review (~30 min): Survey of existing techno-economic analyses, from optimistic projections (e.g., Pasitka et al.'s $6/lb claim) to more pessimistic assessments. What do Unjournal evaluations tell us?
Cost Trajectory Discussion + Beliefs (~35 min): Deep-dive on the key question: What will CM cost in 2031, 2036, and 2051? Expert discussion with structured beliefs elicitation.
Animal Welfare ROI & Practitioner Panel (~30 min): Is CM funding competitive with other AW interventions given current evidence? What would change minds? Open Q&A with funders and researchers.
Stakeholder Context
Why CM cost matters for animal welfare funding decisions (~15 min)
TEA Evidence Review
Optimistic vs pessimistic TEAs, evaluator findings, key uncertainties (~30 min)
Cost Trajectory Discussion + Beliefs
What will CM cost in 2031/36/51? Expert discussion & beliefs elicitation (~35 min)
Animal Welfare ROI & Practitioner Panel
CM funding vs alternatives, what would change minds, open Q&A (~30 min)
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Recording & Publication

We hope to record the workshop, provide transcripts, and share discussion materials publicly — adjusting this based on participant preferences and recommendations. Please indicate your preferences:

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Async Discussion & Suggestions

All fields in this section are optional.

Your responses help us find the best date and structure for everyone.

Other Planned Workshops

The Unjournal is organizing several Pivotal Questions workshops in 2026:

Wellbeing Measurement WELLBY reliability & DALY conversion · March 2026 Plant-Based Substitution Cross-price elasticity & AW funding · May 2026

View all workshops →