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It might sound like the stuff of sci-fi movies, but modern advancements in technology mean certain items, foods and even cells can now be grown in labs.

As companies continue to innovate across a variety of sectors, they are changing the way we eat food, treat medical conditions and drive forward sustainable practices.

Here, we take a look at 10 items that can now be grown in labs.

Meat

In recent years, the meat industry has come under fire for inhumane practices. But what if we told you that you can now eat meat, without an animal dying for it?

Lab grown, or ‘cultured meat’ is created by cultivating animal cells in a lab to create animal flesh. Approved for sale in 2023, and made legal in the UK for animal food, this lab-grown meat is marketed as a healthy and sustainable alternative to traditional farming.

The product, though not entirely mainstream yet, has the potential to completely take over the food market and change the way we consume meat forever.

Human Skin

In February 2023, scientists successfully grew new skin in the shape of a human hand. However, variations of lab-grown skin have been in development for many years.

Generated from stem cells, these lab grown skin grafts are able to be used for extreme burn injuries and other health benefits.

It also has great implications for the beauty industry, with The University of Oregon’s lab-created skin being used by L’Oreal to test cosmetics.

Diamonds

Diamonds have been a valuable natural resource for many years, but have come under fire for their unethical mining practices and trade being used to fuel conflict.

However, lab grown diamonds, which are genetically and structurally identical to mined diamonds, have changed the jewellery world completely. These diamonds are able to be created in a lab, meaning they command much lower prices than their natural counterparts.

This has caused the price of mined diamonds to decrease, as more people look for affordable options that are visually and structurally identical to natural diamonds.

Cheese

Most non-dairy cheese are created with nuts, but scientists have now been able to create dairy proteins in labs that allow them to create dairy-free cheeses. However, many companies are trying their hand at this in different ways.

Startups like Better Dairy are using precision fermentation to create cow-free dairy products that look, act and taste like the real thing.

Wheras DairyX is looking to replicate milk proteins to allow them to recreate products that are structurally similar to cheese.

All of these companies are working to create better dairy alternatives that don’t rely on animals to produce them.

Red Blood Cells

Back in 2022, red blood cells that were grown in a lab were transfused into a person during a world-first clinical trial. And with blood shortages worldwide and donors only being able to donate once every 3 months, it’s definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.

These lab-grown, donor-free cells will allow hospitals to transfuse unlimited amounts of blood without relying on people to donate it.

Whilst companies are still working to develop the technology, it could have huge benefits for health industries across the world.

Chocolate

The over-farming of cocoa beans has led to scientists warning about the unsustainability of the chocolate industry. But not any more.

Companies like Celleste Bio use cellular agriculture to take a few cocoa beans and grow them in a lab, multiplying them to create cocoa butter.

This not only allows companies to create more sustainable cocoa products, but allows them to genetically adapt it to remove any impurities and reduce the amount of sugar in the products.

Fruit

Back in September 2023, it was announced that scientists were harvesting cells from fruits like blueberries, apples and grapes to create them in a lab. Through this, they wanted to create fruits that contained only the edible parts, removing elements like the seeds and core that are usually thrown away.

The creation of lab grown fruit can be particularly beneficial in countries with harsh conditions that may not allow them to harvest fruits. It can also be useful to address food insecurity in areas of high food poverty.

Leather

Whilst faux-leather products are not new, lab-grown leather that’s structurally the same as animal hides – but without waste and harm to animals – is.

Companies like VitroLabs take cells from cows and engineer them to create leather products. This can help companies create clothing that resemble real leather, without the ethical implications that come along with it.

Caviar

Caviar has long been a delicacy, but comes with unethical and expensive farming practices. Now, a British company, Caviar Biotech, is looking to change this by creating the world’s first lab-grown caviar.

The product, which is produced through cell cultures, will allow the company to create caviar without the need to kill.

Honey

Australian company MeliBio created animal-free honey, made without bees. The company was able to structurally and molecularly clone honey without the need to harm any pollinators.

This means consumers can enjoy the health benefits associated with honey, without the environmental damage associated with it.