Five companies that produce cultured meat products have formed a new association to represent the emerging industry.

The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation, or AMPS Innovation, will focus on educating consumers and stakeholders about the industry and advocating for a clear path to market for its products, according to a statement. The five founding members are BlueNalu and Finless Foods, makers of cultured seafood; Fork & Goode and JUST, makers of cultured meat and poultry; and Memphis Meats, maker of cultured meat, poultry and seafood.

Cell-based or cultured meat—sometimes referred to as "lab-grown" meat—is meat grown outside the animal, using animal cells. Cultured meat is actual meat and not a plant-based alternative, the group stressed.

"Over the past few years, each member company has made significant strides in the development of our products, and we are excited at the prospect that they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals," the five founding members said in a joint statement. "We are committed to an open and science-based dialogue with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, advocates and consumers."

AMPS Innovation plans to engage policymakers as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. The group has not announced any staff hires.

The association's website is ampsinnovation.org.

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