In August, Richard Branson posted on his Virgin website a note about his investment in Memphis Meats, in which he announced his vision of nutrition for the future: “I believe in 30 years from now we will no longer kill animals, and all meat products will be synthesized or made from plants, will have the same taste as meat, while being more beneficial to health. One day we will think how backward our ancestors were, killing animals for food."
Branson is one of several influential enthusiasts investing in the ethical, resource-conserving food industry. Although these people came to their decision in different ways, they agree that eating meat is less healthy and irrational - and that our habits will change along with the changes taking place on the planet. Their conclusion is that it is time to support companies that use technology to satisfy the culinary needs of humanity without killing animals, and thus preserving the environment.
Branson, along with Bill Gates, Cargill and Kimball Musk, supported Memphis Meats, a synthetic meat startup with a public fundraiser for the company's development. In total, over $ 22 million was raised. Memphis Meats will join a group of resource-efficient food companies such as three Israeli companies - Meat the Future, Future Meat Technologies, SuperMeat - that will supply food products to China as part of a $ 300 million deal. Branson, who gave up meat consumption in 2014, is investing according to his convictions and vision for the future, trying to counter agribusiness-driven deforestation, a contributor to climate change.
Fighting Rising Hunger
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has determined that 26 percent of the ice-free land is used for livestock feed, and 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually for crops and grazing. According to the Global Monitoring Institute, 51 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions are generated by livestock. These emissions and the damage caused by them will be eliminated by switching to artificial meat.
It is also argued that artificial meat is healthier than natural meat: it does not contain antibiotics, dangerous bacteria and accelerate the growth of hormones. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO affiliate, declared red meat "potentially carcinogenic to humans." The IARC Director also advocated limiting meat consumption as a public health factor. Although scientists do not know exactly which elements of animal meat are potentially carcinogenic, there is a suspicion of hemoglobin iron - and artificial meat can be made without it. Meat can also be made free of saturated fat and therefore no cholesterol, another health risk factor introduced by meat consumption.
Ultimately, no matter how much we love meat, it is difficult to ensure its production at the required level. Alternatives will be needed, and it's time to create them.
Promotional video:
Vadim Tarabarko