posted
In-vitro meat: Would lab-burgers be better for us and the planet?
On going research into in-vitro meat; grown in a lab using animal samples
Advocates say in-vitro meat is better for health of humans and environment
Lab-made meat could be served in a decade, says research scientist Jason Matheny
By Matt Ford (CNN) -- Meat is murder? Well, perhaps not for much longer.
A pioneering group of scientists are working to grow real animal protein in the laboratory, which they not only claim is better for animal welfare, but actually healthier, both for people and the planet. It may sound like science fiction, but this technology to create in-vitro meat could be changing global diets within ten years.
"Cultured meat would have a lot of advantages," said Jason Matheny of research group New Harvest. "We could precisely control the amount of fat in meat. We could make ground beef with an ideal fatty acid ratio -- a hamburger that prevents heart attacks instead of causing them."
But it isn't just the possibility of creating designer ground beef with the fat profile of salmon that drives Matheny's work. Meat and livestock farming is also the source of many human diseases, which he claims would be far less common when the product is raised in laboratory conditions.
"We could reduce the risks of diseases like swine flu, avian flu, 'mad cow disease', or contamination from Salmonella," he told CNN. "We could produce meat in sterile conditions that are impossible in conventional animal farms and slaughterhouses. And when we grow only the meat we can eat, it's more efficient. There's no need to grow the whole animal and lose 75 to 95 percent of what we feed it."
Conventional meat production is also hard on the environment. The contribution of livestock to climate change was recently highlighted by the United Nations' report, "Livestock's Long Shadow", while groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have demonstrated how soy farming for animal feed contributes to the destruction of the Amazon.
In this context Matheny believes his project could significantly cut the environmental impact of meat production -- using much less water and producing far fewer greenhouse gases.
"We could reduce the environmental footprint of meat, which currently contributes more to global warming than the entire transportation sector," says Matheny.
Preliminary results from a study by Hanna Tuomisto, at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, suggest that cultured meat would reduce the carbon emissions of meat production by more than 80 percent.
Making cultured meat
In-vitro meat is made from samples of animals conventionally slaughtered. For example, "pork" is made from pig ovaries retrieved from slaughterhouses, which are fertilized with pig semen, transforming them into embryos. They are then placed in a nutrient solution, where they grow and develop.
It's a long way from the popular image of animals wandering round the farmyard in the sunshine, but then so is modern intensive farming. The factor that could take the research from the lab to the store and into refrigerators around the world is its remarkable commercial potential.
According to New Harvest, meat is already estimated to be a $1 trillion global market, and demand is expected to double by 2050. With concerns about health, animal welfare and the environment growing the appeal of in vitro meat is obvious.
Matheny told CNN that venture capitalists Kleiner Perkins have shown an interest in his technology, while Stegman, a sausage subsidiary of food giant Sara Lee, is a partner. The Netherlands' Government has also invested around $4 million in Dutch research into in-vitro meat production.
But it isn't just the suits who are circling with their checkbooks out -- campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have announced a $1 million prize for the first commercially viable in vitro chicken product. The Humane Society of the United States has also been supportive.
"We think that a technology to produce cultured ground meats -- burgers, sausages, nuggets, and so forth -- could be commercialized within ten years," said Matheny.
"As with most technologies, successive generations should improve in price, quality, and acceptance. We don't think that matching the taste and texture of ground meats will be very difficult. Both conventional and cultured meat is made of muscle tissue. And conventional ground meat is typically highly processed. Chicken nuggets for instance, are made of something called 'meat slurry' -- it would be hard not to do better!"
Public attitude
But the public doesn't always blindly buy what companies believe they should, and acceptance of what is a very radical proposition certainly isn't a foregone conclusion. There are bound to be claims of "Frankenfoods", and reaction against the work.
"Social acceptance isn't guaranteed, but we all want meat that's safer and healthier," he said. "If cultured meat looks, tastes, and costs the same as regular meat, then I think acceptance will be high. The more we learn about the health and environmental impact of conventional meat, the more cultured meat looks like a good alternative."
One obvious touchstone for how in-vitro-meat will be received by the public is perhaps the way GM crops were -- or were not - accepted around the world, something that Matheny draws encouragement from.
"What's interesting about the GM issue is that it has been controversial in some places, but is a non-issue for most consumers," he said.
"Most Americans are regularly eating GM foods. In any case, it's not necessarily the case that cultured meat would involve GM foods.
"We all want meat that's safer and healthier. If cultured meat looks, tastes, and costs the same as regular meat, then do we care that it's produced in a steel tank, rather than in an animal farm?
"Take hydroponic vegetables. We like the idea that they're produced in sterile water instead of dirt and manure. It's true that in-vitro meat isn't natural. Nor for that matter are hydroponic vegetables, or bread, or cheese, or wine. Raising 10,000 chickens indoors and pumping them full of drugs isn't natural, either, and it isn't healthy or safe. The more we learn about how meat is produced now, the more in-vitro meat looks like a better alternative."
Lab-produced meat also raises some ethical considerations. Kate McMahon, Friends of the Earth Energy and Transport campaigner, believes more attention should be paid to improving livestock conditions rather than developing in-vitro meat.
"At a time when hundreds of small-scale, sustainable farming operations are filing for bankruptcy every day, it is unethical to consider purchasing petri-dish meat. Rather, we should be making it easier and more affordable to raise livestock in a safe, humane and ecologically sensitive manner," she told CNN.
Gillan Madill, Genetics Technologies spokesperson for Freinds of the Earth, thinks that clear perameters for in-vitro development need to put in place: "If we can successfully develop these products, what is the defining line between lab-grown meat and natural animals?" she told CNN.
"That is an especially important question since a high level of differentiation and tissue complexity is required to replicate muscle tissue that we use as meat. We need to draw clear lines in order to prevent the commodification of all life."
Ultimately the success of in-vitro meat may be less about consumer sensibilities and more about the hard realities of feeding a growing global population in a finite world.
"With India and China doubling their meat consumption every decade, there's no sustainable way to satisfy the growing global appetite for meat without a significant improvement in technology," said Matheny.
"Cultured meat offers one solution. Improved plant-based meat substitutes offer another. I expect both will be needed."
Test tube burgers? It seems you could be eating them sooner than you might expect.
-------------------- It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious. Posts: 3311 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
we have yet to develop a way to mimic the natural immune systems and it's hard to protect it from all the normal bioloical attacks, viruses, bacteria parasites etc....
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by glassman: it's really hard to culture tissue.
we have yet to develop a way to mimic the natural immune systems and it's hard to protect it from all the normal bioloical attacks, viruses, bacteria parasites etc....
True, but apparently they are developing ways to combat those issues. I know it sounds bizarre now, but this probably is the future they are working on. Especially with the growing global population. Technology is advancing so fast in every arena. It's truly amazing that the things they can do now were mere science fiction a few years ago.
-------------------- It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious. Posts: 3311 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dont you just love how these things get sugar coated? This stuff comes from the same groups of people that support the Sierra Club and the Animal Liberation Front, etc. Domestic terrorism is also known as ECO GROUPS. They sugar coat it all, and put animal rights over human rights.
Ill stick to go ol fashioned steroid free steak thank you.... from real cows.
Here is the difference between me and hacky sack hippies, and here is a great weekend for me:
Going to a lake in the morning to go fish, back up my boat into the water that is attached to a TRUCK that is 4 wheel drive. Then go fishing in the lake not apologizing for using a gas motor to get me to remote spots. Catching fish and then coming to shore to start a fire that produces smoke to cook meat that was freshly cut. Nice KC strips, or maybe some burgers with all the compliments.
If it is the winter time I would probably sit next to the WOOD burning fireplace while I can still legally enjoy one, and sit back while reading a good book that is on paper and not digitized. Perhaps read the Wall Street Journal and try not to see all the new health care, energy, and middle class taxes being thrown out left and right. The wood burning fireplace is under attack in California because it "causes global warming". If some leftist panzy cries to me "you are killing our earth" over my fireplace I relax to its going to get ugly....FAST.
Ill probably do some planning for my business that I started after getting out of the military and serving my country which helped me pay for my college degree based on sweat, and not on the color of my skin or ethnicity for free rides.
I will wonder where the best tax planners and accontants can be found who understand a complex tax code that is so jacked up it is practically impossible to disect into simplicity....and its about to get a lot worse. These are of concern to me because I put everything on the line to go off and start this business, and yet after busting my rear end for a while the honey pot im working for is about to have more honey taken from it. Well Cash...other bears need some of that honey to you have says Barack Obama. You need to share your bountiful honey pot with the bears on the other side of the forest because they didnt go out and find their own with such ambition as they should have.
You know, I remember when Bush was in office all the liberals slammed Texas as a horrible and backwards state while hailing California as some progressive example of how things should be. Funny thing is now look, Texas has one of if not THE most rapidly growing state economies. California has the worst disaster of any state in the union right now economically, and with government. Dont even try to tell me "but but the Gov is a Republican!" You realize Mitt Romney and Arnold are both Republicans and they have two different approaches. Arnold is not in control like some would think, but he sure makes a great scapegoat because of his party choice. If Arnold was a registerd Democrat who would you all blame then? George Bush as usual? California is not blue, no...it is DARK blue. It is the most liberal state in the union and look at their budget. Spend like no tomorrow, and Obama is bringing California politics to DC and most of you on this board know its true but will never admit it. Why else would Nancy Pelosi be so far up his rear? My goodness....
Then we got people like Pagan saying crap like "yeah the white man is just mad because a black man is president". REALLY Pagan? Where do you come up with this stuff? Keith Olberman talking points thrive and flourish around these parts from the people who huff conspiracies of Rush Limbaugh and George Bush battle hymns. The only one who takes the true non-partisan approach is glass. 95% go with whatever Obama says, then there is me and a small few others.
All you who slam Dick Cheney as an evil doer should check his personal non-profit donations that number in the MILLIONS. Then look at Joe Bidens. I am not saying I like Cheney, or you should, but if you are counterproductive yourself to society then you need to check yourself. If all you do is work to make someone else wealthy, dont volunteer, and cry about Republicans while championing government run and imposed regulations then you sir are wrong.
Yeah, everything government run is great. Sure, you hear it all about the IRS, the Walter Reed scandal, and what else? How about public education? How about failed schools that are run by.....government. How about police? How many of you feel uncomfortable when a cop is in your rearview mirror when you have done nothing wrong?
All of you who claim Bush is to terrible, and Obama is SO different, he brought change or will bring it give me some damn examples. Give me something that impresses me to say "wow this IS change, he really WONT raise taxes on the middle class like he promised"
He is already breaking promises. What about the 5 days of public debate before a bill is signed? Where did that campaign promise go?
OBAMA IS A SALESMAN! He was either going to sell you a reason why to vote for him, or you were going to sell him a reason you wouldnt. Obviously a lot of you were sold. You were sold by a great salesman who has broken some of his promises. Hell, just the other week his boy said they werent ruling out raising taxes on the middle class. DID HE NOT PROMISE HE WOULDNT? Now they say "oh well..you know this is going to be expensive so we cant rule it out"
Well Obama, you HAVE to rule it out. You told America you wouldnt do it.
By the way, people who are against this health care not ALL of them listen to Rush. You want me to believe it is some big right wing conspiracy being placed all over? Well then im going to also believe that anyone who does not agree with Obama will automatically be labeled as such. Who is the REAL party of no? Obama wont take no. You tell Obama no..he gets angry. He says you better have that bill on my desk. Public debate? Whats that?
Obama is a wolf in sheeps clothing. You will figure it out if you havent yet. Sure he does some good things, but he OVERPROMISED you...he overpromised everyone!
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
What im trying to explain, is that Obama is trying to govern America like a blue state...a deep blue state. However, for that to work? Obama needs to get the economy going like a RED state, or performing more like Texas.
Does anyone not see this? Or since it is not in walking step with Obama is it not even being considered as a credible argument?
Obama is trying to push a California influenced cap and trade bill based on a state where people are leaving. The bill is anti business.
Remember everyone:
"Never let a serious crisis go to waste"
Rahm Emanuel
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just because you "have a thought" does *not* mean you should act on it, or share it.
For example, you "equate" Sierra Club and Animal Liberation Front. That tells more about you than it does *anything* about those groups. Anyone who does two minutes' reading will recognize those two groups are structurally, fundamentally, radically different.
By doing so, you put off people who know better, who might read more of your message...
posted
I see where you are trying to steer this. I know the difference between the two. Sierra is more passive and institutional where as ALF is more radical and extreme.
If I went through old posts im sure I could flip the analogy on some of your opinions on conservative groups tex....dont deny it!
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
look, you specifically mentioned the two groups in reference to genetic engineering. Do you even know the two groups' positions? Even slightly familiar?
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: What im trying to explain, is that Obama is trying to govern America like a blue state...a deep blue state. However, for that to work? Obama needs to get the economy going like a RED state, or performing more like Texas.
Does anyone not see this? Or since it is not in walking step with Obama is it not even being considered as a credible argument?
Obama is trying to push a California influenced cap and trade bill based on a state where people are leaving. The bill is anti business.
Remember everyone:
"Never let a serious crisis go to waste"
Rahm Emanuel
OK, you get to your "real point." Take mine: if you're trying structure an argument, you risk--severely--losing interest when you lead off with nonsense, with stuff that indicates to readers you don't what you're talking about.
posted
Do you believe it is "nonsense" because you dont agree with it, and it doesnt make you comfortable?
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
let's back up: has nothing to do with me. Sierra Club has a stated policy about gen. eng., which is light years' away from ALF's position. So, to lump them together, literally, makes "no sense," ie, nonsense.
posted
Obama needs to get the economy going like a RED state, or performing more like Texas.
cash, i hate to tell you this, but if you take the economies of the blue states and the red states under Bush? the red states are not even in the same tax bracket.
i live in a red state now, we are not even noticing the recession cuz we've been in one since the civil war. nothing has changed, and nothing will when the recession is over either.
quite frankly? there's more news about how bad the recession is in the biggest economies because they fluctuate more.
i like Texas and Texans for the most part, i would love living there, i'm sure, so i don't like talking Texas down, suffice it to say that it's much better off than the other 20 or so red states, which ain't saying much.
other very Red states include
MS, ARKansas, South Caroline, West VA, Alabama.
go to the worst five states for education, economy, poverty and almost any of the negative things you can think of and you get red states....
i've lived in MD VA ILL HI CA FLA NE and MS.
i don't wanna live in CA, but i do miss the economy there tho, people there have money and spend their moeny, not like the midwest wher people have money but don't spend it much or like the south where there just isn't much money...
i liked VA, people there had money and spent it, jobs were plentiful, but it's hardly a solid red state even tho Bush got their votes...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think it is the philosophy behind red states compared to blue.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'd rather eat in-vitro meat than irradiated meat.
Steroid free antibiotic free and not corn fed for me. Cow was meant to eat grass not corn.
-------------------- No longer eligible for government service due to lack of tax issues. Posts: 5178 | From: Up North | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Me, beer, and sierra club folks would be one hell of a day.
Now Tex, werent you hootin and hollerin about George Bush like everyone else on this board about Bush's: "you are either with us or against us" and now when it is Obama's health care....it is different? hmmmm
Is this not the same Obama administration that wants to suppress conservatives by labeling them as "extremists orgnizations" when ALF gets no spotlight?
Government spending is out of control tex, how would you personally justify it? Which is more corrupt? Big business or big union?
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
Im looking more at the business side not personal.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: Me, beer, and sierra club folks would be one hell of a day.
Now Tex, werent you hootin and hollerin about George Bush like everyone else on this board about Bush's: "you are either with us or against us" and now when it is Obama's health care....it is different? hmmmm
Is this not the same Obama administration that wants to suppress conservatives by labeling them as "extremists orgnizations" when ALF gets no spotlight?
Government spending is out of control tex, how would you personally justify it? Which is more corrupt? Big business or big union?
A piece of a break, here, cashie--you and beer just might be a trial for *anyone*
OK, hootin' n' hollering about Dubya? You *do* understand he got Roved into our Governor's chair, yes? Do you comprehend how much capital has been drained off-country under that "regime"?
Obama's health care may well be "Hillary's Revenge." Health-care in this s-u-p-p-o-s-e-d "world power" is in shambles--and has been for quite some time. I've seen up close and personal, from several different positions. Obama wants to improve it. Great. Me, too. But he's made an horrific miscalculation. He should've focused on the economy and the market, including more criminal investigations into the crooks that got us into the mess. Then with stabilization and morale in order, he could've begun on health care.
Personally, I don't see any suppression from Obama; I think that "report fishy" stuff from the White House post was lame, though.
You're the one who brought up ALF. And whether through ignorance or error, it was clearly uninformed.
Big business and big union? Do you mean by gross revenue, or net profit?
posted
How is this issue related to Obama? This has been ongoing research for years.. In fact I think for us to venture off this planet we would need technologies similar... A space ship full of cows would be just slightly inefficient.
Posts: 2965 | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by buck*******: Are they gonna have the ability to grow antlers on those lab grown whitetails?
Holy crap.. we're talking about the future of nutrition and all you care about is points...
On a side note.. are you going back to Buck******* or are you going to embrace retiredat49.. seriously make the effin choice.. Commit already... you don't see me flip flopping between this and DiQuiRiesco
Posts: 2965 | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by buck*******: Are they gonna have the ability to grow antlers on those lab grown whitetails?
Holy crap.. we're talking about the future of nutrition and all you care about is points...
On a side note.. are you going back to Buck******* or are you going to embrace retiredat49.. seriously make the effin choice.. Commit already... you don't see me flip flopping between this and DiQuiRiesco
quote:Originally posted by buck*******: Are they gonna have the ability to grow antlers on those lab grown whitetails?
Holy crap.. we're talking about the future of nutrition and all you care about is points...
On a side note.. are you going back to Buck******* or are you going to embrace retiredat49.. seriously make the effin choice.. Commit already... you don't see me flip flopping between this and DiQuiRiesco
Relentless...err, I mean DiQuiRiesco...no wait, I mean Relentless Despot or whatever the phuck you call yourself this month...do you really believe that I am so shallow, that all I care about are the points?
Tine length, inside spread, and mass are just as important as the number of points...
-------------------- ***********************
It's all in the timing... Posts: 4303 | From: DSA | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[BadOne]](graemlins/headbash.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
