Hydroponic Meat discussion thread

[genoven]

Yesterday, I sent a notice to the Bay Area Vegetarians in support of hydroponic meat research.

Hydroponic meat is a rational strategy to provide a cruelty-free "meat" equivalent to the vast majority (97%) of our population who have chosen not to live vegetarian lifestyles. This strategy has been endorsed by founders of the modern day vegetarian/animal rights movement such as Ingrid Newkirk and Peter Singer.

My intention is to provide the Bay Area Vegetarians an opportunity to support this effort as an extension of their compassionate volition.

However, this effort has been met with controversy. Thus I have established this thread for the Bay Area Vegetarians to express their support or concerns in a constructive discussion.
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[genoven]

For reference, the hydroponic meat initiative referred to can be accessed through this link:

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/H6PLUB
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[mathomas]

For those wishing to learn more about lab-grown meat, especially from a vegan perspective, check out the feature I wrote for VegNews magazine in May 2006.

iMeat: How Lab-Grown Meat Could Revolutionize Vegetarianism and the World
http://animalrighter.org/Feature_Article.html

Mat Thomas
www.animalrighter.org

[genoven]

Thanks to Mathomas for posting this comprehensive and informative post.

I would also like to contribute an additional vegan perspective on in vitro meat.

How One Vegan Views In-Vitro meat: http://www.rrrina.com/invitro_meat.htm
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[genoven]

And here is a farmer's perspective on hydroponic meat:

Italy shudders at 'lab steak': http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2008-08-21_121248193.html
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[genoven]

For carnivores (most humans), their level of compassion for non-human animals and our Earth does not surpass their desire to eat meat. Commercialization of hydroponic meat as an alternative equivalent is the only realistic strategy to end animal suffering and reestablish farmlands as habitat. The rationale lies in the concept that the carnivores do not have to make a lifestyle change to be cruelty-free.
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[genoven]

Premise A. Since the publication of Animal Liberation in 1975, considered by many to be the beginning of the modern animal rights movement, per-capita consumption of meat has increased in the United States by 20% according to USDA statistical data.

Premise B. The birth rate in the world is much higher than the death rate & rate of people turning vegan combined.

Given premises A and B, one can logically deduce that:

1. Traditional vegan advocacy strategies have been ineffective in decreasing levels of animal slaughter.

2. In the absence of a superlative alternative, protest of in vitro meat is a de facto endorsement of the livestock industry. (I’m sure our fellow cows, poultry and pigs would agree.)

For more information see:
www.whyculturedmeat.org
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931

[tammy]

Thanks for posting this information and starting this discussion. If it can be profitable, I have no doubt that this will happen, as that's the primary driver for most corporations and they will promote it to their (meat-eating) consumers.

Tammy

[LHLisavegan]

I would never eat it but if omnivores are going to continue to eat meat, vs. vegan "fake" meat/vegan, I'd rather they eat this than farmed sentient animals. I do think it's disgusting but if it reduces suffering/number of animal murders for food, I cannot argue with the concept.

[genoven]

As you may already be aware, the project “Hydroponic Meat for a Sustainable Planet Earth” was not selected by the advisory panel as one of the top 25 candidates for funding. Nominations were not an issue; there were many projects selected to the top 25 which earned far fewer than the 1265 nominations provided by the community.

Ironically, there is an article in today’s Time magazine than precisely outlines one of the critical issues this project was meant to address. (see below) As hydroponic meat acceptance does not require a dietary lifestyle change, it offers a realistic strategy to reduce the environmental impact of conventional meat consumption. Unfortunately, the neither the advisory panel nor the ~90% of the community that visited the project page could make that connection. Hopefully further developments (such as the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change advisory) will strengthen the rationale to support such an initiative in the future.


From September 10th, 2008 article in Time magazine:

“Still, Pachauri is just slightly off. It's a tactical mistake, first of all, to focus global warming action on personal restrictions. The developed world could cut back hugely on its meat consumption, but those gains would be largely swallowed up — sorry — by the developing world, which isn't likely to give up its newly acquired taste for cheeseburgers and pork. The same goes for energy use, or travel. It's great for magazines to come up with 51 ways you can save the environment, but relying on individuals to voluntarily change their behavior is nowhere near as effective as political change aimed at speeding the transition to an economy far less carbon-intensive than our current one.”

See full article: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1839995,00.html?cnn=yes



From “Hydroponic Meat for a Sustainable Planet Earth” posted August 12th, 2008.

“I noticed farmland spanning to the horizon and then realized the vast majority of this land is used to feed livestock destined for slaughter. Despite the objective consequences of meat consumption, the majority of our species is unwilling to relinquish its carnivorous addiction. As an equivalent commodity, hydroponic meat is the key to sparing the ecosystem whilst satiating our palates.”

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/H6PLUB
_________________
“We shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium.” –Winston Churchill, “Fifty Years Hence”, December 1931