The Future of Meat

Online

This issue brief provides a visual depiction of my research surrounding the issue of increased meat consumption in the U.S. With such high demand, the meat industry is forced into creating shortcuts to produce enough products. These shortcuts, such as modifying animals and using copious amounts of antibiotics, are creating new problems that we will soon have to deal with. Industrial farming is a leading cause of deforestation and pollution. High consumption of red meat is unhealthy. And the exponential use of antibiotics is making our medicine less effective. Fortunately, some researchers are already looking at alternatives, from plant-based diets to lab-grown meats. It looks like one solution in particular is the perfect in-between: Impossible Inc. Impossible is a company that creates plant based foods that taste exactly like their meaty counterparts. By patenting a way to produce heme, the type of iron specific to meat which is responsible for the unmatchable flavor, they have done the impossible. Perhaps more importantly, they have done it in a way that is accessible to many. Impossible burgers can be found in restaurants and grocery stores across the country. They are vegan, kosher, and halal. They require far fewer resources than meat patties, including only 5% of the land. And lastly, the success of Impossible Inc. has set a precedent for other meat-alternative companies. With meat consumption still increasing, creative alternatives such as this one are taking us just one step closer to addressing issues such as climate change. Issue briefs are an important tool for communicating complex topics. By formatting my work in this way, I can convey lots of dense research that might otherwise be inaccessible to many.