- cross-posted to:
- environment@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- environment@beehaw.org
Host David Roberts speaks to Bruce Friedrich about how fake meat, plant based or lab grown, can reduce our land use substantially, reduce emissions substantially, and end or reduce the cruelty of animal agriculture. Notably, Friedrich contends that fake meats could end up on a learning curve to bring down the price of these meat alternatives to be cheaper than the real stuff. Much in the same way that we got better at making solar panels and flat screen TVs to the point where those items are magnitudes cheaper than they were just 10 years ago.
Friedrich, a vegan himself, chooses to lump plant based imitations together with the more controversial (but possibly more marketable) lab grown animal tissues for purposes of conversation, particularly when it comes to the economics.
Note, this is primarily an environmental tech podcast. And while the host, David Roberts, wishes he had it in him to go vegan, he has had to settle for reducitarian as he, like many, is weak. Much of the conversation is through the environmental lense, but the content is still valuable to this community.
If we wanted to eat meat we wouldn’t be vegan.
Okay but its not just about us. Its about shifting the whole food system. The percent of the population that lives vegan has unfortunately not increased notably in the past 20 years, but so far, the cost & taste competitive meat alternatives have not actually hit much of the market. This new technology is the first thing ever to actually have a shot of swaying your cousin who loves burgers.
That’s fair. Thanks for your point. However, we were talking about ourselves. We just don’t like it when people give us fake meat/meat alternatives.
Well I think you should speak for yourself only because there are people who are currently vegan who do miss aspects of an omnivorous diet. And there are tons more who want to join us but need this stuff in the market before they’ll be ready to make the change. You dont have to put this stuff on your plate for you to uplift it and reduce animal agriculture. Let me repeat, you dont have to want to eat it yourself for you to get really excited that these things exist for your fellow humans.
We aren’t human, as it says in our profile. We were talking for ourselves also. But sure, we hope that this leads to them stop hurting other creatures.
Aren’t ethical reasons the main drivers for veganism (reducing emissions, protecting animals etc.)? While I personally don’t miss real meat, I see substitute products that mimuc taste and texture as a postive thing as it makes the transition a lot easier.
We were talking about ourselves. We don’t really miss meat and don’t like these fake alternatives.
That’s not true. Most people grew up eating meat, and are attached to what food they grew up eating. Most vegans are not vegan out of hate for meat, but because of the suffering and killing necessary to obtain such food.
We were talking about ourselves.