The overall goal of this cooperative, multi-state, multidisciplinary, basic research project is to increase the efficiency and sustainability of meat production in the US and around the globe. Based on most predictions, world-wide meat production must increase nearly 50% by 2050 to meet the demands of the burgeoning world population. Moreover, meat animal production and allied industries contribute some $1.3 trillion to the US economy in 2019 and support 1.8M jobs to the US workforce. As such, meat production is not only necessary to support the health and well-being of a growing global citizenry but is also a vibrant driver of the economy. To increase the efficiency and sustainability of lean muscle accretion, a more comprehensive understanding of those basic biological mechanisms undergirding skeletal muscle tissue is necessary.  Moreover, greater information is needed so data-driven decision-making abilities can be used to optimize further animal growth efficiency.  While we have made great progress towards this goal under the current NC1184 project, participation in the project continues to increase. In fact, over 50 scientists claim membership in NC1184 from over 25 states across the country, many outside the NC region. Regardless, this heightened level of interest coupled with rejuvenated, new membership has spawned a real enthusiasm for understanding the nuances of animal growth and meat production. This revitalization of investigators and the continued emergence of cutting-edged technologies will lead to increased knowledge of high-quality meat production. The subgoal of this multi-state, multidisciplinary, basic research project is to utilize these tools to elucidate the molecular and cellular processes that control skeletal muscle growth and function; thereby, providing opportunities to increase the efficiency of high-quality lean meat production in animals.

This renewal describes the efforts from different Agricultural Experiment Stations that will characterize various aspects of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle growth and function.  Salient points that support continuation of this important, fundamental research project are as follows.

1. Meat is a significant source of protein for human consumption. Meeting the needs of a growing population will require significant growth in meat production world-wide. Though some growth will be realized by increasing animal units, greater outputs must be realized per animal unit. This will require a more thorough understanding of those mechanisms responsible for the efficiency of protein accretion.


2. In 2024, the totality of the meat animal industry was responsible for nearly 6% of the GDP and over 10% of the total employment in the US. Ensuring the viability of this industry in times of elevated energy costs and concerns for the environment will require a better understanding of those inputs, and outputs, required by optimal meat animal production.


3. The project continues to relate directly to the national agricultural research priorities set forth in the NIFA Strategic Plan (2022 – 2026). Strategic Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Resilient and Prosperous.


4. One of the NIFA strategic goals is foundational, and applied research ensures that strategies to manage national and global challenges in food, nutrition and agriculture are rooted in robust peer-reviewed evidence and theories, areas strongly supported by NC1184.


5. The NC1184 Committee continues to be highly productive. Many papers emanating from this group of scientists are published in top tier journals often reserved for reporting fundamental knowledge. This reflects well on the aptitude of the membership and the basic nature of their approach in creation of new knowledge.


6. The NC1184 project is both a multi-state and a multidisciplinary project, involving the effort of investigators from over 25 different State Agricultural Experiment Stations. The Principal Investigators represent a variety of basic science disciplines that complement each other and provide the expertise necessary to complete the objectives.


7. The project continues to enjoy a strong collaborative environment. During the current project, there have been exchanges of data, scientists, students, samples, cell lines, reagents, etc. In addition, there has been vast knowledge sharing of techniques and on occasion, use of equipment only available at some stations. The fruits of these collaborations are best illustrated by the number publications jointly co-authored.


8. Members of the NC-1184 committee have been and will continue to be highly successful in obtaining outside support to fund this research. Funding from the USDA NRICGP (AFRI) Program, NIH, NSF, health-related granting agencies, and industry sources are used to maintain a high level of productivity.