Meat consumption is likely to increase worldwide as more countries industrialize. This puts pressure on land use and generates way more carbon emissions. Some questions; Can a push towards a...
Meat consumption is likely to increase worldwide as more countries industrialize. This puts pressure on land use and generates way more carbon emissions.
Some questions;
Can a push towards a vegetarian/less meat diet slow or check growth of overall consumption?
I've eaten crickets, both fried as a snack and ground into meal and then baked into shortbread and they're just fine. Crunchy when fried, a little nutty in taste as a meal. They're also easier to...
I've eaten crickets, both fried as a snack and ground into meal and then baked into shortbread and they're just fine. Crunchy when fried, a little nutty in taste as a meal. They're also easier to feed than larger animals and can be farmed on an industrial scale much closer to the cities where the people are, which also saves on energy costs to ship the food to where it's needed. As part of a move to feeding everyone without causing other ruinous effects on our ecosystem they definitely a good choice.
There are two challenges currently facing crickets as a food source: cost and public acceptance. People are getting more comfortable with the idea, but it'll take work on the part of chefs and large institutions to get it more into the public consciousness as an acceptable food. Food Network pushing a new show about making weird ingredients into mainstream dishes, the FDA encouraging insect sources of protein, etc.
The other half of the problem is logistical. How will the government make sure that procedures are in place to review and approve large scale farming of the insects? Who will pay to develop the machinery and procedures to farm them? Where will they be located? How do they stimulate demand for cricket meal so that their work to develop increased supply can be rewarded?
It's a big problem any time you try to change a whole people's eating habits. Look at how much work the USA put into encouraging different eating habits during the Depression all the way through WWII.
I can tell you that I will never choose to eat crickets, either whole or in parts. I will be very happy when lab-grown meats reach or better price parity with farm-raised meat.
I can tell you that I will never choose to eat crickets, either whole or in parts.
I will be very happy when lab-grown meats reach or better price parity with farm-raised meat.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_meat I read somewhere that skipping a single meal containing meat is the environmental equivalent to completely cutting out driving for the day, so...
A study by researchers at Oxford and the University of Amsterdam found that cultured meat was "potentially ... much more efficient and environmentally-friendly", generating only 4% greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the energy needs of meat generation by up to 45%, and requiring only 2% of the land that the global meat/livestock industry does.
I read somewhere that skipping a single meal containing meat is the environmental equivalent to completely cutting out driving for the day, so widespread adoption of this would do wonders for the planet considering how much of it we consume. And if you can get it good enough and cheap enough (hell, it will probably be cheaper one day) to where it isn't easy to tell the difference between 'real' meat, I don't see why most people wouldn't end up adopting it except those nutjobs hardliners against global warming who'd probably still eat butchered meat out of spite
Wow that sounds high for just one meal. I think you're right that cost will be a big factor in the adoption of synthetic meat. Poorer people will likely be the first consumers (assuming it's...
Wow that sounds high for just one meal.
I think you're right that cost will be a big factor in the adoption of synthetic meat. Poorer people will likely be the first consumers (assuming it's cheap) since meat is one of the most expensive items (at least where I live) and food outgoings are a larger percentage of their overall. The moderately well off to rich will stay with actual meat much longer due it being a status symbol and having less cost pressures.
Of course if a worldwide carbon tax happened the cost of real meat would shoot up.
Actually I would argue the opposite would happen, at least at first. It's still pretty expensive, and even though costs may lower, the first consumers to have general access to it will still...
Actually I would argue the opposite would happen, at least at first. It's still pretty expensive, and even though costs may lower, the first consumers to have general access to it will still probably be the wealthy, paying potentially hundreds for a single piece of cultured meat. If it ever gets to a point where it's significantly cheaper than animal-created meat and the novelty has worn off, then I could see eating regular meat as being a status symbol, but that won't be for decades at least. Actually maybe that should be a consideration when pricing it, if you don't price it significantly lower than actual meat then it won't be a status symbol
Hmmm I guess it's more likely the cost will keep droping gradually via incremental improvements rather than than a sudden breakthrough. I'm thinking too far ahead.
Hmmm I guess it's more likely the cost will keep droping gradually via incremental improvements rather than than a sudden breakthrough. I'm thinking too far ahead.
Who knows though, I decided to read more of that wikipedia page and I found this Like, that's actually insanely reasonable, it's about as much as you'd pay for a burger in a restaurant. I'd...
Who knows though, I decided to read more of that wikipedia page and I found this
As of February of 2017, a recent report has shown that the price of these cultured burgers has dropped dramatically. Going from roughly over $300,000 to $11.36 in just 3 and a half years.[32] This cost is now only 9-10 times more expensive per pound than standard ground beef.[33]
Like, that's actually insanely reasonable, it's about as much as you'd pay for a burger in a restaurant. I'd definitely pay that amount to try IV meat
Meat consumption is likely to increase worldwide as more countries industrialize. This puts pressure on land use and generates way more carbon emissions.
Some questions;
I've eaten crickets, both fried as a snack and ground into meal and then baked into shortbread and they're just fine. Crunchy when fried, a little nutty in taste as a meal. They're also easier to feed than larger animals and can be farmed on an industrial scale much closer to the cities where the people are, which also saves on energy costs to ship the food to where it's needed. As part of a move to feeding everyone without causing other ruinous effects on our ecosystem they definitely a good choice.
There are two challenges currently facing crickets as a food source: cost and public acceptance. People are getting more comfortable with the idea, but it'll take work on the part of chefs and large institutions to get it more into the public consciousness as an acceptable food. Food Network pushing a new show about making weird ingredients into mainstream dishes, the FDA encouraging insect sources of protein, etc.
The other half of the problem is logistical. How will the government make sure that procedures are in place to review and approve large scale farming of the insects? Who will pay to develop the machinery and procedures to farm them? Where will they be located? How do they stimulate demand for cricket meal so that their work to develop increased supply can be rewarded?
It's a big problem any time you try to change a whole people's eating habits. Look at how much work the USA put into encouraging different eating habits during the Depression all the way through WWII.
I can tell you that I will never choose to eat crickets, either whole or in parts.
I will be very happy when lab-grown meats reach or better price parity with farm-raised meat.
Can I ask why crickets are off the list?
I have no desire to try them. Not even curiosity.
So it's not a repulsion, merely a disinterest?
Pretty much.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_meat
I read somewhere that skipping a single meal containing meat is the environmental equivalent to completely cutting out driving for the day, so widespread adoption of this would do wonders for the planet considering how much of it we consume. And if you can get it good enough and cheap enough (hell, it will probably be cheaper one day) to where it isn't easy to tell the difference between 'real' meat, I don't see why most people wouldn't end up adopting it except those nutjobs hardliners against global warming who'd probably still eat butchered meat out of spite
Wow that sounds high for just one meal.
I think you're right that cost will be a big factor in the adoption of synthetic meat. Poorer people will likely be the first consumers (assuming it's cheap) since meat is one of the most expensive items (at least where I live) and food outgoings are a larger percentage of their overall. The moderately well off to rich will stay with actual meat much longer due it being a status symbol and having less cost pressures.
Of course if a worldwide carbon tax happened the cost of real meat would shoot up.
Actually I would argue the opposite would happen, at least at first. It's still pretty expensive, and even though costs may lower, the first consumers to have general access to it will still probably be the wealthy, paying potentially hundreds for a single piece of cultured meat. If it ever gets to a point where it's significantly cheaper than animal-created meat and the novelty has worn off, then I could see eating regular meat as being a status symbol, but that won't be for decades at least. Actually maybe that should be a consideration when pricing it, if you don't price it significantly lower than actual meat then it won't be a status symbol
Hmmm I guess it's more likely the cost will keep droping gradually via incremental improvements rather than than a sudden breakthrough. I'm thinking too far ahead.
Who knows though, I decided to read more of that wikipedia page and I found this
Like, that's actually insanely reasonable, it's about as much as you'd pay for a burger in a restaurant. I'd definitely pay that amount to try IV meat