The most expensive hamburger in the world worth £ 250,000 will be prepared in London. Such a fabulous price is very easy to explain - scientists grew meat for a culinary masterpiece in a laboratory from cow stem cells.
The creators of the "hamburger in a test tube" believe that synthetic meat can save the world from the growing consumer demand for beef, lamb, pork and chicken, which will have to destroy forests to turn them into pastures. Beef grown from stem cells, according to scientists, will be able to hit supermarket shelves in 5-10 years.
At the same time, bioengineers note that theoretically from stem cells taken from one cow, a million times more meat can be obtained than actually from one carcass. In addition, it will reduce the need for land, water and feed, as well as reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other environmental pollutants, while changing the very concept of meat-eating.
Artificial meat, scientists believe, can make its consumption more acceptable to supporters of the green movement, as well as reconcile vegetarians with meat eaters. Animal rights organizations have already endorsed the idea, and some vegetarians have even said they wouldn't mind trying a steak that didn't hurt a single cow or bull.
According to The Independent, the upcoming culinary demonstration is the culmination of many years of work by physiologist at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, Mark Post. His research into synthetic meat was sponsored by a wealthy patron who, according to one source, wanted to be the first to try the miracle hamburger.
At the same time, representatives of the food standards agency have already stated that before such meat goes on sale, it will have to go through a lot of standards. "The manufacturer must convince the experts that all the necessary safety tests have been carried out for this product, and it really does not pose a threat to the lives of consumers," said a spokeswoman for the department.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which fights for animal rights, supports the idea of "meat from a test tube." “Of course, we welcome this project because it means reducing homicide in the name of steak,” said the organization's spokesman Ben Williamson.
But now journalists are interested in one more question - whether the human body can easily digest what scientists conjured up in the laboratory. They hope that the presentation of the miracle hamburger will help find the answer.
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