For the first time in the history of the world, the Singapore Food Agency has given regulatory approval to US start-up 'Eat Just' to sell its lab-grown chicken meat, which does not involve killing animals.

With growing demands for alternatives to meat derived from slaughtering animals over its impacts on the environment, several people have been mulling over plant based meat (vegan) options in the recent years. Meat, which is grown from animal muscle cells in labs, marks a "breakthrough for the global food industry" as per a statement by the company. Eat Just said on Wednesday that its meat had been approved for sale in restaurants in Singapore in the form of chicken nuggets priced on par with premium chicken. "The first-in-the-world regulatory allowance of real, high-quality meat created directly from animal cells for safe human consumption paves the way for a forthcoming small-scale commercial launch in Singapore," Eat Just reportedly said.

Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just, said, "Singapore has long been a leader in innovation of all kinds, from information technology to biologics to now leading the world in building a healthier, safer food system. I'm sure that our regulatory approval for cultured meat will be the first of many in Singapore and in countries around the globe. Working in partnership with the broader agriculture sector and forward-thinking policymakers, companies like ours can help meet the increased demand for animal protein as our population climbs to 9.7 billion by 2050."