Plant based meat: the Vegan's triumph?

in #science6 years ago (edited)

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The first day a friend told me about plant based meat, I laughed, and advised him to stop seeing too many American sci-fi movies. It reminded of what the star trek crew ate in the movie, and I thought the idea was funny. But the dude was deadpan serious, and I had no option but to get myself informed.

My 'meatarian' mind was not prepared for what I would eventually find on the Internet. I saw that plant based meat was not new at all, neither was it a joke, and that big vegan brands were at the forefront. And that being vegan is now the new cool, as acclaomed by some followers of celebrities like Beyonce and Ellen who are phasal vegans. I'll say that plant based meat is a sure score for Vegetarians and people who feel all guilty whenever there is a burger in front of them (real meat burger) or even steak. While some will say it is a win over man's primordial craving for meat, what do you know?

What is plant based meat?

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Plant based meat, also know as faux meat or vegan meat is a whole substitute for meat, a subsitute that mimics the texture, taste and composition of real meat. These substitutes are often made from things like mushroom, wheat gluten, soy beans, pea protein, amaranth, and the rest. Vegan meat became more than just a dream with series of experiments done by some scientists like Hsieh and Huff, with an extruder, with the aim of making the first realistic vegan meat. But the experiments were not much of a sucess until some like Ethan Brown came into the picture. Brown continued the experiments, and they produced results so astonishing that when Bill Gates tasted it, he wholeheartedly invested in the business. And Bill is only one of the many investors.

Plant based meat tastes like meat, smells like meat, and sizzles like meat, but it is not meat, hence the name faux meat.

This kind of meat is gotten from variant processes of synthesis and chemical manipulation of some plants. Molecular bioengineering is the root of everything here; the exact replica of the molecular structure of a particular meat is recreated, using plants this time. Also a company like modern meadow uses 3D printers and tissue engineering to grow meat in a lab.Talk about moving farming from the fields into the labs.

Why 'plant-based' meat?

The controversy surrounding man's anthropocentric behaviour towards other living things and care of the environment duly informs the Vegetarian lifestyle. The concern for the environment comes first, before taking health and nutrition into consideration. The idea behind this product is that it will be conserving a part of earth's resources, catering for the increasing population, and making the earth safer and healthier for this population.
Since most vegans find it illogical that thousands of animals should die for humans to eat, to clothe, and to feel comfortable, replicas of meat made from plants seem to be in the right direction.
They also believe that this idea is a sure way to get rid of waste; waste accrued from the rearing stages (like greenhouse gases caused by cattle rearing), to the eventual slaughtering of these animals for food, and for other animal products.

According to the US State Department of Agriculture, global agriculture –which is dominated by livestock production and grains grown for animal feeds – accounts for roughly 30% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Another study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, found that 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions are "directly attributable to livestock production. That's more than the emmisions generated by the entire transport sector. The Problem is cows, not Cars!

Ref

This advocacy is also concerned with the way animals are treated. But would it really stop humans from killing animals? And how valid is the argument that humans would reach a stage where there is not enough animal protein to go round?
Provision of plant-based meat is just solving one out of the many reasons why humans slaughter animals..
Will scientists grow furs in their labs, or make skin out of plants too?
And what about the plants? Who said plants don't deserve the chance to live? Sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

How healthy is plant-based meat?

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The funny thing about things like plant based meat is that the manufacturers will never tell you about the side effects of consuming these lab-grown/made products, they will always convince you that they are healthy. But how healthy is such genetically modified product?

Most vegans claim that feeding the vegan way is feeding healthy, since vegan food cultures makes you slimmer, increases your lifespan, and reduces your chance of getting cancer. But does such 'processed' vegan food also count as healthy? Most processed meat substitutes contain sodium, monosodium glutamate, and hexane (for soy processing), and when in excess are hazardous to health.

Also, it's Quite interesting to note that in terms of nutrition, the beyond burger blows your typical beef out of the water. With 20 grams of protein, 13% more iron and no cholesterol, and such an uncanny similar taste, it's hard not to be impressed with the plant-based version.

Also, man's craving for red meat may be termed primal, but has anyone ever wondered what totally eliminating real meat from man's diet would do to him? – Mentally i mean, since it is common knowledge that meat is just like chocolate as it also activates the pleasure center in man.

Some Brands associated with plant based meat.

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On the forefront of these plant based substitutes is a brand like Beyond meat, with Ethan Brown as the CEO. Such an outfit was started to make products that would substitute for meat. Brown grew up on a farm, and the experiences produced both inspiration and stimulation to start up this company that is known for her wonderful vegan recipes. His target market are populated countries like China and India. And with personalities like Bill Gates, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Jason Goldman investing in this business, I can predict that this idea would surpass expectations.

Beyond meat is famous for her

1. Beyond burgers

2. Beast burger

3. Beyond chicken strips, and

4. Beyond beef crumble.

There is also a brand like Modern Meadow. Modern meadow grows beef and pork cells in heated incubators. This company was co-founded by a father and son, Garbor and Andras Forgacs. Most of the meat from Modern meadow does not look like meat, without the whole bloodied appearance, and texture of real meat. And for that, they employed a chef, Homaro Cantu, to add finishing touches to it. Modern meadow is also interested in growing leather. For them, the biggest fear in mimicking a product is the fear that people having at how close the faux product resembles the real one, and so instead of trying to make it a perfect replica, they strive to make it better than the real thing.

Others include: Gardein with their fishless fish, and meatless meatballs; Tofurky with their vegan dogs and vegan pizza, field roast with their vegan cheese, and many other firms like Boca burger, Simply balanced, and light life.

The future of plant based meat.

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The future looks bright for plant based meat. obviously it's got more nutritients than the normal thing. The real rival to the market should come from lab-grown meat –which is meat grown from stem cells of a particularly meat, in the lab. However, there is a huge chance that these two would survive together in the market tomorrow.

Most of these brands associated with faux meat have dreams of expanding beyond their start up locations. And I ask; how will plant based meat be received in African markets?

I believe it will sell too, as most millennials are getting cozy with western cuisine. Also, healthy feeding and healthy living is now a lifestyle, though not in that strictly vegetarian way. And i know some Africans, particularly Nigerians will like this product, the ever popular ketogenic feeding plan is enough proof.

And my petty self just had to ask, how will the meat lovers fare? Particularly the yorubas in Nigeria and their huge chunks of meat?

Here's a brief explained video of plant-based meat. which would survive? Plant based or Lab-grown?


References consulted:

Ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5


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Until next time,

@pangoli

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This is a major scientific breakthrough, as it will cut down on man's over reliance on beef. Well written post bro...and thanks for your steady support.

You're welcome bro...

Learnt from this @pangoli ....welldone my friend..thumbs up...I still like my cow meat though lol

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Good job bro, you really did some work here

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Good job bro

you can check my profil give comment & upvote :)

I would have to taste it for myself But it sounds interesting. I cannot live without eating meat, maybe with this I could become a vegan?

Quite possibly...

Though it's proven that some vegetables do have more protein that the average beef, some of us are simply meat lovers. I love meat a lot. And if this would work, then sure, I'd love to have a bite...

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