J. Morris Hicks, engineer. writer. big picture guy.

When will the madness end?

A new use for stem cells

The BBC reports that Dutch scientists are using them to create strips of muscle tissue in the laboratory. The aim of the research is to develop a more efficient way of producing meat than rearing animals. From the report:

At a major science meeting in Canada, Prof Mark Post said synthetic meat could reduce the environmental footprint of meat by up to 60%.” We would gain a tremendous amount in terms of resources,” he said.

Hey! What about reducing the meat environmental footprint by 100%—just stop eating meat. Apparently, the industry is finally beginning to realize that current methods of livestock production are unsustainable. Duh. The article continues…

So why use such high tech methods to produce meat when livestock production methods have done the job effectively for thousands of years? It is because most food scientists believe that current methods of food production are unsustainable.

Some estimate that food production will have to double within the next 50 years to meet the requirements of a growing population. During this period, climate change, water shortages and greater urbanisation will make it more difficult to produce food.

The article points out that “if the technology took off, it would reduce the number of animals that were factory farmed and slaughtered.” Duh. Countering that piece of brilliance was David Steele, who is president of Earthsave Canada, saying that “the same benefits could be achieved if people ate less meat.” He continued:

“While I do think that there are definite environmental and animal welfare advantages of this high-tech approach over factory farming, especially, it is pretty clear to me that plant-based alternatives… have substantial environmental and probably animal welfare advantages over synthetic meat,”Dr Steele, who is also a molecular biologist, said “he was also concerned that unhealthily high levels of antibiotics and antifungal chemicals would be needed to stop the synthetic meat from rotting.”

The question is when are we going to get serious about “dispelling the protein myth,” taking charge of our health, feeding the world safely and ending the horrific suffering of so many billions of animals? See link to the BBC article beneath my signature. For a better solution:

Dispelling the Protein Myth

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J. Morris Hicks, working daily to promote health, hope and harmony on planet Earth.

And if you like what 4Leaf eating is doing for you and your family, you might enjoy visiting our new “4Leaf Gear” store. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.

—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com

BBC News – Lab-grown meat is first step to artificial hamburger.

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J. Morris Hicks -- Member of the Board of Directors -- Click image to visit the foundation website.