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the dead end grift that is lab grown meat (thecounter.org)

submitted 5 days ago by sc_griffith@awful.systems to c/techtakes@awful.systems

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lab grown meat is a vaguely EA/rationalist/self IDed neolib meme. in theory it will save the environment (ok) and prevent suffering (yay) in a way that concentrates capital (double yay) and involves a lot of tech magic (triple yay).

hot luigi is a big fan apparently. seeing this discussed reminded me of this excellent article which shreds the concept of mass produced lab grown meat. I haven't really seen this circulate much over the years, but it is really a masterwork of grift dissection. please enjoy

archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20241208141305/https://thecounter.org/lab-grown-cultivated-meat-cost-at-scale/

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[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 19 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Great article.

I have long suspected that it was a dead end, because at most you get a slurry that you then have to process. We already have that, the slurry is just made of vegetables. Growing animal cells in a way is way more complex then mashing peas or beans and make processed food from that.

Or you know, be unafraid to try tofu.

[–] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 5 days ago (2 children)

This is not a good take. Even if the tech is further away than the optimistic takes of the industry that doesnt make it impossible, and "at best" you could definitely have more than a slurry. There are mang current scientific studies revolving around growing human organs in a lab. Eventually we will be able to grow meat that is essentiallt indistinguishable from the 'real thing'. And yes, while everyone should just go vegetarian, they arent going to. So the sooner we get to that point, the better.

[–] fnix@awful.systems 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You should read the article first.

[–] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I did. The articles conclusions are that its currently impossible to produce lab grown meat at such a scale that it could replace a large porton of the meat industry and still be viable economically as a short term investment. Im not denying that, and i dont care about investor returns. I dont think any industry should be privatized anyway, and especially beneficial scientific research that could shape the future. But the point is the technology is here, and will continue to get cheaper and more efficient, and in the meantime any meat consumption that is replaced is a good thing, even if its not all at once. The whole article reads like an investment prospectus, not a critique of the technology itself which is how its being presented.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 10 points 5 days ago

"We can't get people to eat less meat and more vegetables, therefore we must invest billions so that we can get to the logical endpoint: million dollars steaks!"

"Or at least, that is what we told them. Now, feast on the most expensive meat yet as we now can literally eat up the planets resources!"

Evil laughter as the billionaires twirl their mustaches and salivates.