There are thousands of studies that have revealed the negative effects of the food industry on society and the environment. Let's start with the most recent data: According to The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI), published in December by the World Food Program (WFP), which was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for its contribution to the fight against hunger this year, while the pandemic process brings about serious food inequality, food prices reached their highest level since December 2014.
The prominent statistics among the trends spread over longer periods - from Our World in Data and the World Bank - are as follows: The food industry is responsible for 26 percent of greenhouse gases. Half of the habitable land outside of glaciers and deserts is used for agriculture. 70 percent of the water obtained from fresh water resources in the world is spent in the agricultural industry. 78 percent of the global ocean and freshwater eutrophication (excessive proliferation of plankton and algae in large water ecosystems as a result of a large increase in nutrients for various reasons, especially those coming from land) is caused by agriculture. 94 percent of mammalian biomass, excluding humans, consists of animals within the livestock industry. This means that mammals in the livestock industry make up a population 15 times larger than mammals in the wild. In addition, according to the IUCN red list, 24 thousand of 28 thousand species under threat of extinction carry this risk due to agriculture and aquaculture.
It is not new that the business world is rolling up to reduce or stop the negative effects of food on society and the environment altogether. From speeding up recycling to targeting zero waste generation, creating sustainable supply chains, adopting circular business models or returning to small farms and working with local communities, countless projects have been implemented for years. However, among them, those who have received the most attention in the media and those who create their own fan base seem to focus on meat production.
From the fields to the lab
The world population has doubled in the last 50 years, while meat consumption has tripled… According to the rates shared by The Economist in 2019, the number of chickens on the farms at a given time is 19 billion, the number of cows is 1.5 billion, the number of sheep and pigs is one billion each. As to how much meat we consume a year… According to WFP, approximately 1.4 billion pigs, 600 million sheep, 450 million goats and 300 million cattle. Although it is more difficult to calculate the consumption of seafood, the estimated amount points to 150 million tons in 2016.
Today, one out of every 9 people is struggling with hunger. For many people, meat is a source of essential vitamins, minerals and protein. It's a lifestyle for some. For Yuval Noah Harari, it is one of the biggest crimes in history.
In early December, Singapore approved the sale of chicken cells grown in bioreactors, a decision that is considered a turning point across the industry. It is a first in history that the culture meat produced without causing animal slaughter has been approved by a regulatory agency. This new chicken meat is from the US start-up Eat Just, which previously marketed non-animal products such as plant-based eggs and vegan mayonnaise. It will have limited access yet and will be available at a restaurant in Singapore. Although it is more expensive than traditional meat, it will reach consumers at a more affordable price as its production increases. The cells of Eat Just's chicken meat were grown in a 1,200-liter bioreactor and then mixed with plant-based ingredients. All of these cells were obtained from cell banks without the need for any animal slaughter. The nutrients needed by growing cells were also provided from plants.
High variety in alternative meat market
The search for alternative meat in the technology world started long before Eat Just. This past goes back to the establishment of Beyond Meat, which is described as the "protein of the future" in 2009. The Meatless Farm Company, This, Mosa Meat, Impossible Foods, Memphis Meats, Moving Mountains, Foods for Tomorrow, Meatable, Vegan alternatives do not appeal to every consumer or reflect the texture and taste of traditional meat. Most of the companies that produce meat in bioreactors claim that they have obtained the product that most closely resembles the flavor of traditional meat, and is therefore closest to convincing meat-loving consumers. One of the contributions these companies make to the meat industry is the elimination of problems caused by animal waste such as bacterial infections or excessive use of antibiotics and hormones.
Conquering popular culture
Let's not go without saying that popular culture also supports the alternative meat industry. The "best burger of the year" chosen by GQ magazine in 2015 wasSuperiority Burger, which was founded in New York by a premium pastry chef and offers vegetarian options. Impossible Burger, which came out of Silicon Valley in 2016, made its debut at Momofoku Nishi. Although Beyond Meat acted 3 years earlier than Impossible Burger on technological burgers created with meatless alternatives, it was working on plant-based alternatives, and for now, Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat are among the initiatives of their choice.
Those who resist a meatless future
The United Nations shares that plant-based alternatives lead to 99 percent less water, 95 percent less soil and 90 percent less carbon emissions compared to ordinary 4.5 kilograms) of meat produced by traditional means, 1799 gallons of water consumption, 16 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, 260 feet of land use and 1, While it that if we want to solve the meat problem radically, we must adopt social policies that go beyond carbon footprint and animal rights. Especially as food prices started to increase this much and food inequalities continued to rise ...