By 2050 it is expected that humans will consume 70% more meat than in 2005. Additionally, it turns out that raising animals to slaughter, and consume is one of the worst things we can do to the environment. With the fact that people probably will not stop eating meat in the near future, and global warming becoming a bigger problem something needs to change.
The two main solutions to this problem are plant based alternatives, and lab grown alternatives. The process of making lab grown meat includes extracting muscle tissue from an animal, and then growing it in a bioreactor. It looks similar to what you would get from an actual animal, but doesn’t taste quite the same. While lab made meat would be better for the environment, there would only be an estimate of a 7% decrease in carbon emissions. Though it may not be an incredibly substantial amount 7% is better than no decrease in carbon emissions.
On the other hand plant based alternatives can be better for the environment then traditional beef, and lab based alternatives. Companies such as Beyond Meat, and Impossible Foods are already helping to preserve the environment by using pea proteins, soy, wheat, potatoes, and plant oils to replicate the taste and feel of animal meat. It is estimated that Beyond Meat’s artificial burgers generate 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than normal meats, making it a better choice for the environment.
This is an image of wheat, one of the ingredients of some plant based meats. Courtesy of Flickr
With global warming causing more irreversible climate change becoming a greater problem, we need to change something. The Artificial burger was engineered to reduce carbon emissions. While reducing carbon emissions from burgers might not be the most substantial step in stopping global warming, it is a start, which may influence other industries to do the same thing.
Links
https://www.technologyreview.com/lists/technologies/2019/
https://www.fastcompany.com/3044572/the-325000-lab-grown-hamburger-now-costs-less-than-12
