In the spring of 2024, experts began warning that the United States is experiencing a decline in the beef supply that could lead to shortages and as a result increasing prices. In addition to impacts on the food industry, lower beef production is impacting the availability of byproducts from beef production, including fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is widely used in the life sciences industry. However, there are steps research labs and bioproduction companies can take now to safeguard their access to sera to manage the current fetal bovine serum decline and an expected future shortage.
Why Are Experts Predicting the Tightening Beef Supply Will Continue?
According to recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates, beef production could be about 5% lower in 2025 compared to 2024—a declining trend that's expected to continue for the next few years. In fact, beef cow inventory in January 2023 was 3.6% less than the previous year. The current decrease in beef production follows years of shrinking herds that have put the U.S. beef herd at its lowest ebb since 1951, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Although the decline in fetal bovine serum might feel slight, Mark Koza, Business Director, Media and Serum at Corning Life Sciences and current board member at the International Serum Industry Association (ISIA) states “While the anticipated 5% reduction in the cattle herd doesn’t sound that disruptive, it's crucial to highlight the projected 30-50% decrease in FBS production this will cause, as ranchers are more selective about what cattle is sent for processing vs. what they retain. This is a significant concern that requires the life science industry’s immediate attention and strategic planning to ensure FBS supply is secured for years to come.”
Experts cite multiple factors contributing to the tight supply of beef, including ongoing drought conditions in multiple states, recent wildfires in Texas, higher input costs, supply chain issues, and producers' efforts to rebuild their herds after previous losses.
How to Plan Around the Tightening Supply on Fetal Bovine Serum
Just as the food industry anticipates that the beef supply will continue to get tighter, the same effect is expected for the sera industry. In addition, the growing demand for FBS could further impact availability.
Nearly all laboratories and production lines rely on FBS to support cell culture applications, whether in small-scale research or in large-scale bioproduction, so a fetal bovine serum shortage would have significant repercussions throughout the life sciences industry. However, there are a few steps FBS users can take now to secure their supply chain.
How to Secure Your Fetal Bovine Serum Supply
Follow these four tips to help maintain your FBS supply today and well into the future.
1. Proactively Plan with Your Primary Fetal Bovine Serum Supplier
Not all suppliers have equal access to sera. Some heavily rely on a supply chain that they don't own to source sera—making their supply more vulnerable to changes in the market. Conversely, by working with a supplier that has direct relationships with abattoirs and a fully integrated supply chain, your lab can get access to a more stable supply and reduce the risk of experiencing shortages.
James Carver, Director of Business Operations for Media and Sera at Corning, highlighted the importance of partnerships in weathering market dynamics. "The fact of the matter is, natural products always have a degree of variability and cyclic behavior from a supply perspective," he explained. "The goal is to establish a partnership with a source that can insulate you from these fluctuations in volume and price."
Some FBS suppliers, like Corning Life Sciences, have long-term supply assurance with key government-approved abattoirs in the U.S., as well as a vertically integrated supply chain. This arrangement ensures a stable supply and enables Corning to maintain strict control over procedures and quality at every step, from blood collection through processing and transportation.
To further secure your FBS supply, check with your current sera supplier to understand whether they have full control of their supply chain. If they don't, work with them to map out a long-term supply plan that will mitigate risks and meet your FBS needs. Or, take the opportunity to validate other suppliers with a secure supply chain.
2. Validate a Secondary Fetal Bovine Serum Supplier
With supply already contracting and a shortage anticipated, you will not want to wait on vetting and validating a secondary sera supplier. It's best to start planning now by researching and validating a strong secondary FBS supplier before any potential problems arise.
According to Tate Lavitt, Senior Product Line Manager at Corning Life Sciences, “Serum production is directly related to consumption, and is influenced by the supply of animals from agriculture. As an ISIA member, I have learned the importance of the connection between agriculture and FBS supply for scientists. To protect the important work in life sciences from disruption, it is crucial to plan testing and procurement timelines with consideration of potential risks, as well as strategies to mitigate them. Collaborating with serum suppliers who have ample reserves and expertise in managing market fluctuations is a good starting point."
Look for a supplier who has a streamlined supply chain and secure sources of sera for a direct route. The secondary source should be able to fulfill all your requirements for a smooth process flow and less product handling. Given the fluctuations in the FBS market, securing a contract with a secondary supplier is a practical proactive step to take.
3. Approve Additional Origins of Materials
If your lab currently only uses serum from the U.S., consider broadening your options by qualifying alternative serums from other regions. Testing additional, high-quality serum options in the lab now will give you substitute options if you cannot access your normal U.S. supply.
In addition to Premium U.S. Origin FBS, Corning offers Premium Australia Origin and New Zealand Origin FBS, as well as select FBS sourced from Mexico or certain Central American countries. All non-U.S. options pass USDA safety testing for import to the U.S., are fully traceable to the abattoir, and undergo Corning's stringent quality testing procedures. Multiple treatment options (such as heat-inactivated, gamma-irradiated, or charcoal dextran-stripped FBS) are available to meet your cell culture needs.
Corning's sera technical support team and field applications scientist team are eager to help you explore available options and select the best product for your needs. With decades of experience in the laboratory sera industry, our teams can help guide you through the process of product selection, validating an alternative sera and material qualification as well as assist with troubleshooting, scale-up, and regulatory affairs.
4. Create a Stock-up Strategy
FBS has a 5-year shelf life, so consider ordering FBS in bulk in advance and storing it on-site. Or, talk to your supplier about your anticipated FBS usage for the next few years and see if there's an option to reserve the product you need upfront.
Corning offers lot reservation tools that allow labs to test serum products before ordering. Under a Test and Hold arrangement, Corning will hold product for your lab while you screen samples for suitability. Under a Reserve arrangement, you can purchase from the same lot of material over a specified period.
Make a Proactive Plan with Corning
Given the current and predicted state of the beef industry and the resulting shortages of food and byproducts like FBS, now is the time to develop and maintain a secure FBS supply. Visit Corning's website to explore FBS options and other sera options, or get in touch today.