$1m prize for first meat made in the lab

ANIMAL rights activists are offering scientists a $1 million reward if they can produce commercially viable meat in a laboratory.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) says lab-grown meat could satisfy appetites without harming animals.

"People are surprised to learn that Peta is interested in lab-grown meat, but we have overcome our own revulsion at flesh-eating to champion a breakthrough that will mean a far kinder world for animals," said Igrid Newkirk, the president of Peta.

The reward would go to the first scientist who develops a method that produces enough meat to be marketed in ten US states at a price competitive with prevailing chicken prices.

To cash in, scientists must create meat that is indistinguishable from regular chicken in taste and texture, according to a taste-test panel. The deadline for the lab meat to go on sale is 30 June, 2012.