In the Future, the Meat You Eat Won’t Come From Living Organisms

[Elegiac]

Rich people will still eat real meat.

Sure, in the same way that wealthy people still eat niche foods that have otherwise been pushed out of the mainstream economy.

[Hilhen7]

Would you like me to tell you what the first computers cost? New technology is often prohibitively expensive to start, because of inefficiencies, volume, and many other reasons. Over time, prices drop. We're still years if not decades away from mainstream market lab-grown meat. But it's going to arrive, and it's going to priced at competitive levels.

You mean like they do with farm animals? >_>

The way we know is the same way we know what's in our frozen pizza - rules and regulations. This is no different. People hear scienc-y stuff and it's spooky language they don't understand. Their reaction is "it can't be good", "something must be suspicious", or the likes. Which is ludicrous.

Now, no one is saying let Dr. Moreau run wild and never check what's cooking under the lid. That would also be ludicrous. There's systems in place to control these things, just like with "normal" food right now, or with the medical industry. In fact, chances are that a new technology like that will see MORE scrutiny, and be potentially safer and healthier than "real" meat.

Just steer clear of fearmongering and false dichotomies. The world doesn't split into "natural" and "unnatural" as neatly as people think - or at all, depending on what you mean by "nature", since "nature" is as much about uranium and sulfuric acid as it is about sunshine and strawberries.

Well to be fair if your trying to sell something new to consumers your going to have to convince them that it's superior compared to the previous product. Right now your saying it may be healthier, which remains to be seen. We don't know what is going in to this meat just yet, right now we are just speculating.

The only selling point is that it would be better for the environment. We haven't really dealt with price and taste.

[Elegiac]

Well to be fair if your trying to sell something new to consumers your going to have to convince them that it's superior compared to the previous product. Right now your saying it may be healthier, which remains to be seen. We don't know what is going in to this meat just yet, right now we are just speculating.

The only selling point is that it would be better for the environment. We haven't really dealt with price and taste.

We have, you've just been ignoring the points being raised.

As regards price, it's immaterial because the price of any given commodity decreases as a function of economies of scale. Technology advances, techniques are refined, and laser printers that used to cost several grand are now sold in miniature format at Wal-Mart.

As regards taste, consumer tastes and the cuisine at large changes over time regardless.

[Hilhen7]

We have, you've just been ignoring the points being raised.

As regards price, it's immaterial because the price of any given commodity decreases as a function of economies of scale. Technology advances, techniques are refined, and laser printers that used to cost several grand are now sold in miniature format at Wal-Mart.

As regards taste, consumer tastes and the cuisine at large changes over time regardless.

But how will the industry start? It's not immaterial, because this product needs to break into the market and compete with other existing products.

You can't compare lab grown food with a printer. Printers gave large benefits compared to typewriters in terms of increased productivity and ease of use. Also who were the largest consumers of printers in the early stages, compare that with the largest consumers of food.

The only benefit lab grown meat offers is that its good for the environment, otherwise you could just have organic meat. So unless the price is in line with organic meat, I don't see where the market for this product would come from.

[Deleted]

I guess we should ban the people that make light bulbs as it is a detriment to the candle markers? Or shall we ban the car since it hurt the carriage maker?

You're aware more jobs were created with lightbulbs and cars? Besides candlestick makers and carriage crafters aren't eradicated. What job opportunities will lab grown meat provide? Also don't know why you're mentioning ban since I certainly didn't mention it.

[Elegiac]

But how will the industry start? It's not immaterial, because this product needs to break into the market and compete with other existing products.

The same way any industry starts? The technology typically precedes the commercialisation.

You can't compare lab grown food with a printer. Printers gave large benefits compared to typewriters in terms of increased productivity and ease of use. Also who were the largest consumers of printers in the early stages, compare that with the largest consumers of food.

And in vitro meat gives a lot of benefits compared to traditional meat in terms of consistency, quality, and ethics. Taste and production costs are factors of engineering, which will become less of an issue as technology advances.

[Hilhen7]

And in vitro meat gives a lot of benefits compared to traditional meat in terms of consistency, quality, and ethics. Taste and production costs are factors of engineering, which will become less of an issue as technology advances.

Consistency - Yes
Quality - You cant say that until we test / compare the product.
Ethics - Debatable. Also we have organic meat as an alternative.

[Elegiac]

Quality - You cant say that until we test / compare the product.

Quality in terms of production, not in terms of aesthetics. Specifically it's easier to keep in vitro meat from becoming contaminated.

Ethics - Debatable. Also we have organic meat as an alternative.

Organic meat resolves some of the animal welfare issues, but it doesn't speak to the question of whether or not keeping livestock in captivity for the express purpose of being killed and eaten is in of itself ethical.

In vitro meat just bypasses that issue entirely. There is no suffering and no killing, just science.

[Lane]

Try making cheese with soymilk. Try making any pastries with soymilk. Dairy is essential to the diet of millions if not billions. Soymilk, coconut milk or rice milk, whichever milk substitute you choose doesn't come close to the nutritional value of cow milk.

It's also worth noting that whatever environmental concerns exist due to cattle-farming, soy-farms are just as bad, if not worse if they continue to increase.

Dairy is horrifically unhealthy. People need to stop believing marketing over science. Nutritionally, much of what milk offers is a result of fortification and not anything that naturally occurs. Unless you're specifically buying grass fed milk then odds are the cows are being fed soy and/or corn. The vast majority of soy farms exist as a source of animal feed.

The introduction of dairy to children significantly increases their risk of developing type I diabetes due to bovine insulin. Casein, the protein in dairy, is a cancer promoter. Nearly all dairy cows in the US carry bovine leukemia virus, which has been linked to developing breast cancer in humans. Due to the cows being milked incessantly they develop wounds on their udders, which results in infections and pus making it into the milk supply. Pregnant cows are full of estrogen so all dairy contains hormones (the industry is very careful to say no "added" hormones), which is a host of other health issues in humans. The countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. It's also showing links to autism with dairy-free diets being recommended to autistic children. That's just off the top of my head, not even getting into things like saturated fat, cholesterol, etc.

As for cheese, there are plenty of alternatives made from nuts. I know Miyoko's uses a similar culturing process to dairy cheese, but uses a cashew cream as a base.

[Shiny212]

Dairy is horrifically unhealthy. People need to stop believing marketing over science. Nutritionally, much of what milk offers is a result of fortification and not anything that naturally occurs. Unless you're specifically buying grass fed milk then odds are the cows are being fed soy and/or corn. The vast majority of soy farms exist as a source of animal feed.

The introduction of dairy to children significantly increases their risk of developing type I diabetes due to bovine insulin. Casein, the protein in dairy, is a cancer promoter. Nearly all dairy cows in the US carry bovine leukemia virus, which has been linked to developing breast cancer in humans. Due to the cows being milked incessantly they develop wounds on their udders, which results in infections and pus making it into the milk supply. Pregnant cows are full of estrogen so all dairy contains hormones (the industry is very careful to say no "added" hormones), which is a host of other health issues in humans. The countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. It's also showing links to autism with dairy-free diets being recommended to autistic children. That's just off the top of my head, not even getting into things like saturated fat, cholesterol, etc.

As for cheese, there are plenty of alternatives made from nuts. I know Miyoko's uses a similar culturing process to dairy cheese, but uses a cashew cream as a base.

I think you're the one that needs to start believing in science rather than whatever vegan mania you've latched on to.

"Off the top of your head" doesn't make anything you said true you realize. But I'll bite anyways cos it's fun.

Children are advised to drink milk until adolescence by pediatricians, do you know better than doctors all of a sudden? There is no evidence that cows milk is "cancer promoting, what freaking nonsense is that. Cows are not milked so incessantly that they are develop wounds, if this were the case the farms would be penalized and forced to meet animal welfare standards, in civilized countries that is.

There's no causal link between high counts of osteoporosis and dairy consumption, try again. Milk is very high in calcium, the most beneficial substance for bone-health, no one argues about this. There are absolutely no links between dairy and autism, now you sound like an antivaxxer, really wanna be associated with that crowd? And do you really mean to say that some reputable medical professional out there suggests not eating dairy will "cure" autism? Are you high? Or rather, how high are you?

Cholesterol is hardly a major concern for children, saturated fats are necessary for healthy growth, and the amounts and type in milk aren't bad for you at all.

Try selling nut-cheese to someone that asks for cheese, see how they react.

The only people that should stay away from dairy are the lactose intolerant.

[Halicia]

Consistency - Yes
Quality - You cant say that until we test / compare the product.
Ethics - Debatable. Also we have organic meat as an alternative.

Quality - labgrown meat lacks fat and the flavor gained from it. the potential is there for prepared and packaged foods that add natural and artificial flavors anyways, but I don't think you'll see people eating petri-steaks unless the prices, regulations, or availability of naturally butchered meats causes difficulties.

[Queen of Hamsters]

I don't know about you guys but I usually only eat meat from things that have died.

Filthy casual.

Everyone knows it's best to eat the cow as it's running around in the field.

[Afrospinach]

What happened to horses when they became functionally obsolete in almost all of the developed world?

They started sneaking them into burgers.

[ArguesWithStrangers]

I'd rather this than have to start eating insects when we run out of livestock

We've more livestock than we've ever had, ever. Where do you people come up with this stuff?

[Aeula]

Good for vegans or something I guess?

The Animals will still need to die to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and quite frankly I'd rather eat natural meat than all this science shite that we'll find out ten years down the line causes cancer.

[Logwyn]

You're aware more jobs were created with lightbulbs and cars? Besides candlestick makers and carriage crafters aren't eradicated. What job opportunities will lab grown meat provide? Also don't know why you're mentioning ban since I certainly didn't mention it.

Someone still has to butcher and process the new meat no? Rotate the current workers into the canning and packing process. If my sister in laws ex husband can work the machine that processes meat into dog meat or whatever else they process.... then I'm sure he can work the machine that processes lab grown meat with little training.

[ArguesWithStrangers]

It's quite common knowledge that humanity, even in first world countries is breeding faster than we can support in terms of livestock etc, you will definitely see a meat/ crop crisis in our lifetime.

It's common knowledge among lunatics with no ability to look at facts or think critically. People like you have been predicting an imminent Malthusian catastrophe since the early 1800s, and it keeps failing to materialize. Right now we live longer, healthier, have greater access to fresh water, more food than we've ever had. Our babies survive more often. Our population is booming, precisely because we've developed industrial farming and animal husbandry techniques, and high yield, drought and pest resistent crops. We have the ability to store and preserve our foodstuffs indefinately. We can ship them safely and quickly worldwide. An average family in America eat's better than Roman Emperors, as we've more variety and quality of food. I can eat a ripe tomato grown in Argentina in bloody February. That's epic.

Get this, as our population grows, we adapt new means to sustain ourselvs. We've been doing that since we realized throwing pointy sticks at tasty animals kills them. Now go enjoy your computer, high-speed internet, central air, running water and refrigeration and throw a hot pocket in that microwave. A little delicacy like that would have taken all day for you to make 100 years ago.

[Techno-Druid]

Good for vegans or something I guess?

The Animals will still need to die to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and quite frankly I'd rather eat natural meat than all this science shite that we'll find out ten years down the line causes cancer.

None of the domesticated animals we eat generally contribute to the ecosystem in ways most native animals can't and in the event that lab-grown meat becomes cheaper and more viable, the overall populations of cattle, chickens and pigs would gradually decrease.

As for hunting and wild animals, natural predators do a better job at controlling the populations of species of deer than we ever will. And assuming livestock slowly decrease in population, more land could be allotted for them to colonize with less human conflict. I'm not against hunting for sustenance and invasive species like feral pigs or Burmese pythons.

[PACOX]

This is my main question. I mean there are around 100 million cattle in the US. Of course not all of those are used for meat but what will we do with those that are? Just let them all die off?

We control their numbers, we just breed less.

[Sunseeker]

Don't really care as long as it tastes good. If I really need an animal to die for my food, I'll go hunting.