Will the future be almost meatless?

[whm1974]

OK reading about the rising resource cost of raising large numbers of food animals(aka Factory Farming) and the fact that is not sustainable for the world's growing population in the long run, I'm now wondering if most people in First World nations, especially the US will forced by simple economics to adapt almost meatless diets in the future?

I'm thinking that the prices of meat will skyrocket to the point that only the rich can afford to eat meat regularly, and even they will be forced to cut back on consumption to some degree. Even the offal that only poor folks will eat will be considered delicacies as headcheese is starting to become.

I'm also thinking that the main protein sources will end up being something like Tofurky and Quorn for most folks. Or maybe the lab grown meat for what's left of middle class in the United States.

I'm I being too dire about the future?

 

[sandorski]

It is going to change, how much I don't know. I suspect we will be eating mostly Meat substitutes in a few decades, but I think some Meats will continue to be common, like Chicken/Poultry, due to lower cost to produce.

 

[Genx87]

The markets are preparing for it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...1ccdbc5f74e_story.html?utm_term=.87ad36d70bc0

 

[Despoiler]

Animal agriculture is already un-sustainable for the amount of people that want to partake. It uses too many resources as well as being the biggest contributor to green house gases. I don't think the future will be meatless, but it will be for the less well off.

 

[Commodus]

As it stands, there's work being done on making artificial meat. It might not matter much if you can get a synthetic steak that tastes roughly as good as the real thing without consuming any farming resources.

 

[Stokely]

Personally, if it's both healthier for me and for the planet at large (no pun intended) to cut out most meat I'll deal with something less tasty.

Doesn't necessarily mean you have to go from 100% to 0%, though of course a smaller market would mean much higher prices.

 

[dank69]

So striving for immortality seems kind of pointless if there isn't going to be any more bacon.

 

[1prophet]

Don't worry, there will be plenty of meat for everyone in the future.

 

[zinfamous]

we will be eating lab meat. yum.

 

[whm1974]

Animal agriculture is already un-sustainable for the amount of people that want to partake. It uses too many resources as well as being the biggest contributor to green house gases. I don't think the future will be meatless, but it will be for the less well off.

I think most people will end up having to settle for faux meats for a good portion of their diet, maybe have cultured meat once or twice a week with "real meat" being reserved for holidays or such.

 

[Jaskalas]

And some folks would love to argue that there's still resources for more people. Hell no.
We probably surpassed sustainable a few billion ago.

 

[BurnItDwn]

There is lots of land which is good for pasture and bad for growing crops. The way we get meat will likely change, and people will likely be required to reduce meat intake, but, meat is here to stay. In many cases, grazing animals on pasture land have been shown to actually reduce desertification, though there are studies which say otherwise.

 

[local]

I live in TX, I can almost hit a cow with a rock from my house so I'm good for a while. Maybe I should start growing cows so I can sell burgers to the city people.

 

[Yakk]

Growing meat cultures will be the future.

It'll eventually be cheaper than real animals. Think of it as Pink Slime 2.0

 

[whm1974]

There is lots of land which is good for pasture and bad for growing crops. The way we get meat will likely change, and people will likely be required to reduce meat intake, but, meat is here to stay. In many cases, grazing animals on pasture land have been shown to actually reduce desertification, though there are studies which say otherwise.

I think it depends on managing pastures properly to prevent overgrazing which does cause desertification along with chopping most the of forests down.

 

[whm1974]

What, no naysayers telling me that I'm way too dire or off?

 

[Yakk]

Nope.

 

[Genx87]

What, no naysayers telling me that I'm way too dire or off?

My response showed meat will available. And probably relatively cheap as well give the reductions in land and water to produce it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Protein from insects can be created in a vertical environment vastly increasing the protein content produced per acre.

One example down this road: https://www.fastcompany.com/4045421...d-to-make-bugs-a-mainstream-source-of-protein

 

[whm1974]

My response showed meat will available. And probably relatively cheap as well give the reductions in land and water to produce it.

Yes but what about beef and dairy products? And mutton?

 

[Thebobo]

They are growing leather now should be for sale very soon. No more slaughtered animal car interiors shoes etc.

 

[whm1974]

Protein from insects can be created in a vertical environment vastly increasing the protein content produced per acre.

One example down this road: https://www.fastcompany.com/4045421...d-to-make-bugs-a-mainstream-source-of-protein

Good luck getting westerners to eat bugs, especially Americans.

 

[whm1974]

They are growing leather now should be for sale very soon. No more slaughtered animal car interiors shoes etc.

Didn't hear about that.

 

[Thebobo]

Didn't hear about that.

http://www.modernmeadow.com

of course soon is relative.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Good luck getting westerners to eat bugs, especially Americans.

You're already eating some (along with some other tasty ingredients)

http://chefsblade.monster.com/training/articles/1407-insects-mold-and-other-legal-food-contaminants