In Vitro Meat Food for Utopia, Contested in Ethiopia

The introduction of In Vitro Meat (IVM) as "The Future of Food" by the BBC in 2013 sparked considerable interest and debate. Taking this into account, the thesis embarks on a multifaceted exploration guided by three central research objectives: i) elucidating the beliefs, practices, and imaginations surrounding the production and consumption of IVM from the perspectives of its proponents and the Oromo people in Ethiopia; ii) unravelling the relationships between perceived food-related challenges and opportunities in these distinct contexts; and iii) contextualizing these aims within the broader landscape of contemporary food geographies, particularly in relation to the concept of food sovereignty.

The theoretical foundation of this thesis is rooted in discourse analysis, aiming to delve into how individuals across diverse settings conceptualize and engage with ideas of food production and consumption within the complex web of societal, cultural, political, and economic influences. It navigates the intricate terrain where new discourses intersect with existing ones. With a specific focus on the reception of IVM within Oromo communities, the study investigates the process by which individuals assimilate this discourse into their belief systems, historical narratives, cultural norms, and power relations. This inquiry offers valuable insights into the assimilation of novel discourses into society.

A critical analysis of the IVM sector's portrayal of future scenarios, as well as the actors, materials, and narratives it employs, underscores a significant oversight concerning geography. Despite the growing global interest in IVM and the substantial investments made to facilitate its integration into the international food market, a noticeable void exists in both the academic literature and the IVM sector's efforts to consider the perspectives of African consumers. The thesis addresses this gap by presenting an ethnographic account of the way of life of the Oromo people in Negele and Yabello, Ethiopia, and their intricate relationship with non-human animals. Through alternative framings of how non-human animals are perceived and how IVM is situated within these perceptions, the thesis seeks to unpack the implications of IVM for regions far removed from its production, thereby carving out a space for marginalized communities in future spatial imaginations.

Given that most governance activities currently have single-defined (precautionary, predictive, or deterministic) and yet unarticulated relationships with the future, they often lack the mechanisms required to address or empower citizens to grapple with the implications of envisaged futuristic technologies (Guston, 2014). By engaging in a speculative analysis of how IVM is perceived by the Oromo people in Ethiopia and by exploring the tensions between sovereignty, particularly indigenous sovereignty, and forward-looking sustainable development approaches such as food security and climate change mitigation strategies through bioeconomy, the thesis underscores the necessity for anticipatory governance in developing countries like Ethiopia, especially within indigenous communities.