Letter

In response to What about the animals?

Renewable meat

Jeffery Soar correctly asks “What about the animals?” The answer (omitted for concision) is that in 20-25 years most meat protein will be produced in cell culture – beef, lamb, chicken, pork, fish and even dairy products. The product is real meat – it just never went “moo”. It is very close to economic now.

This will spare the world a vast amount of destructive agriculture, overgrazing, and needless cruelty. It is a 21st century solution to a 21st century problem.

As to whether people will eat it, 70 years ago they never thought they would dress in petroleum – but that’s mostly what we wear nowadays.

And do you really know what’s in a crab stick, a nugget, sausage or meat pie? Do you even want to?

— Julian Cribb from Canberra, ACT