Are lab meats our future? Part 2

Continued from Part 1… For the good of the planet and our health, it would definitely help to eat less meat. But many people I know say they would rather eat vegetables than pay premium prices for plant-based meat or lab-grown meat. I’ve tried Impossible Burger and I feel the same. While the texture was not unlike real meat, I somehow felt dissatisfied. It might have been psychological, but I found myself craving a regular burger, or simply a vegetarian meal made with natural ingredients. I have no doubt that adopting a plant-based diet is good for the environment. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, balanced diets featuring plant-based and sustainably produced animal-sourced food “present major opportunities for adaptation and mitigation while generating significant co-benefits in terms of human health.” Taste aside, I have my doubts about whether lab-grown and plant-based meats are truly better alternatives. These products rely on advanced technologies and possibly expensive labs and processes, all of which would translate to a significant carbon footprint. In the interest of sustainability, perhaps we could focus on eating more real plant foods. If we do have to eat meat, we could choose meat that comes from farms with low-impact farming practices. Lab-grown meat and plant-based meat are not the only choices. (Tan Ying Zhen) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.