Will You Ever Eat Lab-Grown Meat? Why/Why Not?

[laexperienciador]

Nowadays we are all aware how much meat industry harms animals and the environment so this is why lab grown meat could be an effective alternative
What do you think?

[sunny-dave]

"we are all aware how much meat industry harms animals and the environment"

That is very much a matter of opinion - not an established fact.

Lab grown meat is an interesting idea - but surely a true vegan/vegetarian doesn't need simulated animal protein?

[Atheist]

sunnydave; I think that the routine slaughter of millions of sentient beings is harmful to those beings.
Why shouldn't vegetarians prefer simulated protein?
If it avoids the killing of animals, what's wrong with that?

[sunny-dave]

Yes, of course it's harmful to the specific animal being slaughtered - but the argument about whether those animals would have even existed and had their lives without farming is more complex.

I do take issue with the global assertion that "all animal farming is harmful to the environment" - there are good and bad models for raising stock, and the good ones can bring into productive use a lot of land which is useless for arable crops and which would just be left to run to waste.

[Atheist]

sunnydave.
"the argument about whether those animals would have even existed and had their lives without farming is more complex."

I first heard that point about 40 years ago. Suppose we substitute the word "Jews" for "animals". Would you really think that the creation of Jews for slaughter was in any way defensible because we gave them the precious gift of life for a few years before we killed them?

[pastafreak]

Will it ever be done on a large enough scale to feed millions...and be available in Tescos at an affordable price?
I read an in-depth article a number of months ago that went into great detail regarding not just cost +investment, but the sheer size of the factories needed. We are talking $billions. It doesn't seem likely in the near future.

Some farm animals will still be needed for their cells, but what effect will the removal of unneeded animals have on the balance of nature.

[sunny-dave]

The point at which anyone introduces the holocaust into the argument for veganism, is the point at which every sane person walks away.

Jews are not animals, animals are not Jews.

[Atheist]

Pasta... I find the reference to "removal of unneeded animals" very upsetting. We produce these animals (which we have bred in their modern forms) and then refer to them as unneeded. Very Old Testament in the assumption that they are given to us by God for our enjoyment. There was a time when we might have died without them as food. We can do better that that now.

[Atheist]

Sunnydave:
"Jews are not animals, animals are not Jews."

Firstly, all Jews (like all human beings) are animals.
Secondly, all animals are not Jews.

I made no reference to the Holocaust, and I am not advocating veganism, simply asking people to think before they don't think.

[pastafreak]

How else does one put it Atheist? If we stop eating them and no longer require them...what will happen to them? Those of us who are kind...meat eaters or vegan...want them to remain. But when big business takes over, they will no doubt be expendable.

[Atheist]

Pasta;
"Atheist? If we stop eating them and no longer require them...what will happen to them?"

They will eventually die and be eaten or buried, but we will stop breeding new ones for food (unless we really need that food).

[royfromaus]

I first heard that point about 40 years ago. Suppose we substitute the word "Jews" for "animals".



Why not swap the word animals for blancmange?

[pastafreak]

We will still need some for lab grown meat...as I understand it. Maybe a few will survive in zoos.

[divegirl]

Vegan here and no I wouldn't try it. Would be too weird after years of no meat, I'll get my protein elsewhere :)
That said anything has to be better for 'food animals' and the environment than this...

[pastafreak]

I've not looked, but I assume those are feed lots. If we are going to eat animals...and humans have done for millennia...we have to treat them with respect. Feed lots are not that.

[tiggerblue10]

I'm not a vegan but I've led a mostly meat free, plant based diet for the past few years, with the odd dip into dairy ice cream and I am willing to try lab grown meat.

[divegirl]

Breeding an animal into existence just for them to be killed for food when still babies is not respecting them.
And yes the feed lots exist, ignoring them does not make them go away :( People who live near these monstrosities lead awful lives.

[tiggerblue10]

Just realised I wrote 'mostly meat free' when I actually meant 'meat free'. The only reason I won't call myself a vegan is because of the ice cream which I eat on the odd occasion.

[LadyCG]

Why would anyone want to eat Frankenstein food?

[divegirl]

Do you have a Morrisons near you TiggerB? Their own brand free from ice cream is amazing and really cheap too ;) xx

[tiggerblue10]

I've tried so many plant based ice creams, Divegirl, but struggling to find one I like. I don't shop at Morrisons and can't remember the last I went into one. There's one a few miles away so may check it out. I'm sure I tried a coconut based one which I liked but can't remember what it is.