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| Test tube burger |
At the annual meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science in Vancouver,
it was announced that the scientists are working to produce meat in the
laboratory to, potentially, replace conventional farm-animal meat production.
The idea of “test tube” meat is to cope with the growing demand for meat but
limited land resources.
Animal meat, as a source of protein or simply for taste, is
an important part of diet for a large number of people. However, keeping the
health issue aside, the cost of producing meat is significantly higher compared
to
plain plant based food. It takes more than 2400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while growing 1 pound of wheat only requires 25 gallons.
plain plant based food. It takes more than 2400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while growing 1 pound of wheat only requires 25 gallons.
Economic growth and prosperity of China has increased meat consumption and the result has
been massive deforestation and ecological toll on countries like Brazil
that fulfill China’s
growing demand for meat and agricultural products.
It is expected that the global meat demand will increase by
60% by 2050 but the land area and the vegetation and natural resources required
to raise livestock is limited. As more area is used for meat production, it
will have detrimental affect on the supply and price of plant based food,
greenhouse gases and overall ecological balance.
In an interesting development, scientists at Maastricht
University in the Netherlands,
led by Mark Post, are working on a project that hopes to grow meat in the
laboratory without need to raise and slaughter cows. The idea is to take stem
cells from cow and produce skeletal muscle tissue in a laboratory that will
mimic meat in texture and taste. One would
expect to take thousands of such test tube grown cow tissues and stack them
together to make a burger. Since such meat does not contain blood, it lacks
color.
The entire concept is in experimental stages right now and
it may be possible to bring it to commercial reality some day. In a way, it
will be somewhat similar to growing mushroom indoors. The process will bypass conventional
meat-animal industry that requires more land, water, plants and disposal of
waste products than almost all other human foods.
So, do you see "test-tube" meat in your future?
Just remember, initially, it will
cost around $345,000 to bring the first lab-grown hamburger to reality.
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