World’s 1st cultured meat farm to open in western Netherlands

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - The world's first cultured meat farm will be opened in the western South Holland province in the Netherlands, broadcaster NOS reported Wednesday.

The farm is being built in the village of Schipluiden, South Holland, where the first production modules were installed this week on the dairy farm of Corne van Leeuwen, an artisanal cheesemaker.

The concept, originally conceived by researcher Willem van Eelen but only realized in 2013 when Maastricht physiologist Mark Post, with Google funding, used cow muscle stem cells to grow the world's first lab-made hamburger, arose from early concerns about animal suffering in intensive livestock farming.

The new pilot setup in Schipluiden aims to produce small-scale cultured meat directly on a farm.

An experience center is set to open at the farm in spring 2026, allowing visitors to see what is actually happening.