It is a reality nowadays that producing and consuming food as we are used to now, is not going to suffice the growing number of people living on the planet in the following decades. And that is raising a wide pool of issues besides the future of food and climate change.
Ethical considerations related to killing animals created a war between vegans and meat enjoyers that continues for decades and does not seem to have an end. And it runs deeper than that. It is worth mentioning that our current culture and the livestock that we have to feed us contributes more than 15% to global greenhouse gas emissions, which can influence climate change. It might sound funny at first but just think about how cows' burps release huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere. And guys, methane is way more potent at keeping the sun trapped than carbon dioxide.
Even more so, because there is a huge demand for food, producers are required to raise animals in questionable conditions and at a faster-than-natural pace. And when we think that raising livestock contributes so much to deforestation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity we realize the importance of finding better solutions for the future of our food. So more consumers are getting educated about the perils that animal agriculture brings and what other alternatives we have.
For one, plant-based diets seem like a getaway to a healthier lifestyle
As the name suggests, a plant-based diet means eating primarily plants rather than meat. However, this does not mean that we shouldn’t eat animal food, like dairy products, poultry, eggs and anything else. All it means is that we need to structure our meals with a focus on plant-based foods. And to be honest, thinking of it like a switch in lifestyle rather than a diet not only sounds better, but it’s also better at a subconscious level.
You should be aware of the benefits surrounding a plant-based diet because as we all know - meat is associated with heart problems, obesity, and diabetes. And as you might have figured, plant-based products are the opposite. By eating primarily plant-based we can get all the micro and macro nutrients necessary for a healthy body, all while having a more sustainable plan than any traditional meat-focused diet.
And we are not alone. Many food companies have invested considerable amounts of money in advancing their plant-based sector. Even fast-food giants like Mcdonald’s and Burger King employed plant-based products in their menus when they realized the switch in consumer preferences is going to affect anyone who didn’t comply.
By choosing a plant-based diet, people can fight for a better body but also a better world. And yes, it might be a little bit hard at first until we grasp the ins and outs of eating primarily plants while making them tasty. But think about it like this: Whole wheat wraps with vegetables and hummus, avocado toast with chicken and salad, and yogurt with fruits and nuts don’t even sound that bad. Saying goodbye or reducing our contributions to gas emissions and pollution that are connected with animal agriculture can be easier than you think.
But there is another option arising and it might just be the solution to eating meat without the environmental and ethical implications of the current scenario.
I’m talking about Lab-grown food. If you are not aware of how meat is made inside a laboratory get ready because I’ll blow your mind. The technology behind lab-grown meat involves collecting muscle cells, stem cells, and fat cells from an animal by a procedure called a biopsy and developing it in a laboratory to create comestible meat.
It might sound head-scratching, but the procedure seems plausible enough to compare it with harvesting a crop of cells. In fact, Lab-grown chicken is being sold in countries like Singapore and the US already. Look at GOOD Meat for example. At a quick glance at the company’s website, we can see their slogan “real meat made without tearing down a forest or taking a life” followed by a reality - Humans will always eat meat. Connecting the dots get us a clear insight into the company’s view of the food problem.
Even more so, according to GOOD Meat, taking a bunch of cells and putting them inside a tank with the required nutrients can offer a very nutritional and delicious meat alternative but without all the negative effects on the environment.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves since lab-grown meat also has drawbacks. One disadvantage is that this technology is still in its infancy and is not available to all consumers. Also, it is more expensive than traditional meat, meaning that it might take a while until we can really get this kind of alternative to the masses.
The future looks promising for plant-based and lab-grown food.
Advancements in technology, changes in customer preference, and shifts in government policies are several factors that will impact the plant-based and lab-grown food industries. While these alternatives will become more and more mainstream, we can expect their price to go down.
But when we talk about consumer preferences, it is safe to say that it will be challenging to convert hardcore meat fans. Plant-based and lab-grown food should be widely proven to have the same nutritional value as meat and at the same time awareness and education should be brought to the population about the importance of switching their lifestyle.
Last, but not least, it’s worth mentioning that government policies will probably try to promote a more sustainable lifestyle of consuming healthy food. The government could subside plant-based and lab-grown food producers as well as ease the regulations.
To put everything in perspective, almost 1 billion people worldwide suffer from the insufficient food supply. While the prospects tell us that in the next 30 years, there would be 2 billion more people on the planet, how will our current food industry face these challenges? And with the growing implications of global warming and the need for sustainability, the future of food is in for a bumpy ride. But the more people get access to information and alternatives like accessible plant-based and lab-grown foods, the more hopeful we are for the future.
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