World Hunger Day, which the United Nations celebrates every year on October 16, i.e. today, is also World Food Day. This should revolutionize itself in the next few years because of climate change and the need to soon have to feed ten to twelve billion people, from animal to plant-based foods.
Many people in industrialized countries also have ethical arguments for consuming less or no meat at all: animal welfare. The creature shouldn’t suffer because of the business expectations of the $ 1,000 billion meat industry.
Currently, only around ten percent of the population rejects meat consumption; only around one percent are vegans, i.e. they do not eat any food of animal origin. Much more people, however, are said to be flexitarians who, according to the strict definition, have a predominantly plant-based diet, but occasionally indulge in a high-quality piece of meat.
Climate-friendly and healthy
Incidentally, the meat-free movement could push back diseases of civilization caused by excessive consumption. In addition, a lot of vegetable protein would be released to feed the growing world population, because around ten kilos of plants (feed) are required to produce one kilo of beef.
Meat substitutes have been gaining in importance since the debate intensified around ten years ago. Hundreds of companies have been founded around the world to produce meat-like products such as schnitzel, burgers and sausages from plants. The world’s largest food companies such as Nestlé (Switzerland) and Tyson Foods (USA) offer pseudo meat made from peas, soy or other vegetable raw materials. The large meat processors also work in this area in Austria. Since the summer, the legendary Figlmüller in Vienna has had schnitzel made from plants, and McDonald’s serves the Plant Burger.
In addition, start-ups, especially in Israel, have been working on artificial meat from the bio-reactor for years. Muscle mass is grown from cells. Some propagate the steak from the 3D printer. The company Supermeat in Israel advertises that their process would mean 99 percent less land consumption, 98 percent less water consumption and 96 percent less greenhouse gases. Since fetal calf blood is required for cell growth and a synthetic substitute has not yet been developed, consumers react negatively. The business consultancy AT Kearney stated in a study in 2019 that by 2030 only 73 percent conventional meat would be consumed, 18 percent vegetable and ten percent artificial meat. In 2040, the latter is expected to be the largest product group at 40 percent (35 conventional, 25 plant meat). However, experts believe that 50 billion animals will have to be fattened every year because meat will be affordable in emerging countries in the future. (le)
