Fake beef: It’s what’s for dinner.

Well, if you live in a non-third-world country and want to do your part to fight the global climate problem, Bill Gates says we can do this.

Gates spun his narrative in response to a question during his book tour, telling Technology Review: 

“I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef” to help reduce methane emissions when it comes to food production.

“You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time. Eventually, that green premium is modest enough that you can sort of change the (behavior of) people or use regulation to totally shift the demand.” 

The philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder told the MIT outlet he anticipates plant-based proteins could begin to help combat methane emissions produced by livestock.

Gates said the fake meat wouldn’t work for “the poorest 80 countries” because “we’ll have to use animal genetics to dramatically raise the amount of beef per emissions for them.”

Gates’ book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster” is out Tuesday,

The world’s second-richest man talked about the greenhouse gas emissions.

“There are all the things where they feed them different food, like there’s this one compound that gives you a 20% reduction (in methane emissions),” Gates said, adding a caveat.

“But sadly, those (digestive) bacteria (that produce methane) are a necessary part of breaking down the grass. And so I don’t know if there’ll be some natural approach there. I’m afraid the synthetic (protein alternatives like plant-based burgers) will be required for at least the beef thing.”

Add comment