While these foods avoid many of the environmental and ethical impacts of rearing animals, they also have their detractors.

University of Reading researchers interviewed 23,000 consumers across 18 countries and asked how they felt about lab-grown foods – also known as cellular agriculture – and eating insects.

The survey showed that young adults are most open to consuming these products, with around half of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they would happily eat lab-grown foods. People up to the age of 44 are less also likely to totally reject the idea of eating insects.

Professor Richard Bennett led the research. He said: “This is an interesting result for the future of sustainable food. Young people tend to be the innovators in changing food habits. They are likely to influence older people around them to do the same, over time.

“All age groups want to know more about the health and safety implications of these new foods. If we want to see these new, sustainable...