REVIEW

Advances in porcine stem cell research and their applications in agriculture.

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 10 August 2026 · DOI 10.3389/fcell.2026.1862107

A review assessed recent progress across pig embryonic, induced pluripotent, germline, muscle, adipose and other adult stem cells, with emphasis on cultivated meat and genetic breeding. It found that unstable pluripotency, pig-specific epigenetic barriers, inadequate culture systems, uncertain germline markers and disputed female germline cells limit translation. For cultivated pork, scale-up can erode stemness, while serum-free media, edible texture-forming scaffolds and regulation remain obstacles. Faster in vitro breeding also depends on complete pig gamete production protocols that do not yet exist.