During the pandemic, plant-based meat consumption and media coverage exploded. Now, a host of trend pieces decry its demise. That shift is no organic accident.
TL;DR: the meat industry’s misleading messaging campaign + lobbying
I think we should go harder into mycoculture and Insectivory. We can grow mushrooms or other fungus on our plant waste like wood, paper, and food scraps. We can also feed soldier flies, grubs, ants, termites or grasshoppers on farm and food waste.
Insects and fungi are also WAY more efficient than mammals like cows, or reptiles like birds. And they can both use waste material from agriculture without using up resources that we ourselves could use for ourselves. Fungi can be grown in the pitch black, so that reduces energy consumption. Many insects can be grown in far denser populations that like cows or chickens, and they don’t have nearly the same level of consciousness (that we know of) as cows or other mammals. So, even if we are still killing them, its arguably less unethical.
On top of that, consumption of insects has way lower risk of disease. Salmonella, worms, prions, etc. You can get those and others from mammals and birds, but insects are so different from us that it’s a lot safer for the most part. That being said, there might still be some risk we haven’t identified yet.
I’ve had a few different insect based portions of meals and they are great. If food scientists get to spend as much time in insects as they have had when traditional meats they will blow up as a protein source.
I always say that if McDonalds could make an insect based burger I would eat it in a heart beat
I’ve had baked crickets before, and they were okay. If I ate them more, I might get a palette for them, but I wouldn’t personally say that I liked them. But, I’d suck it up for the, you know, sake of the continuation of pleasant life on Earth.
I like to say that I’ll try anything once. But, I’ve sort of sworn off McDonalds for the most part for a few reasons. But, if they did make this sort of jump, I might try to encourage it with my buck.
Well, yeah, for sure. But, unlike chemical pollution and water misuse, the food is actually something the overall population can do something about on individual levels to have an effect. A few folks eating bugs won’t do much, but millions would. Whereas with pollution, companies produce millions of persons’ worth of pollution every year, some more. A private jet produces more pollution in one trip than my entire family does in a whole year. There’s nothing I or anybody else can do to offset that.
I think there’s an idea that no one will eat them, so there isn’t a large investment into it. I know I for sure would though. I’m sure a lot of people would be grossed out at first, but I bet after seeing the cost difference they’d change their mind and at least try it.
People should be grossed out by chicken nuggets, and any other kind of “mechanically separated” meat or protein, like surimi… but just add a bit of flavoring, or a crispy coating, and they crave them.
Whether it’s tendons, eyes, gills or antennae, just turn them into a non-descript paste with funny shapes, and people will eat it.
I’ve seen some grasshopper farms, they sell them fried whole as snacks, or powdered to add to any meal. There are also some growing cockroach farms in China, not sure how they sell them though.
I think we should go harder into mycoculture and Insectivory. We can grow mushrooms or other fungus on our plant waste like wood, paper, and food scraps. We can also feed soldier flies, grubs, ants, termites or grasshoppers on farm and food waste.
Insects and fungi are also WAY more efficient than mammals like cows, or reptiles like birds. And they can both use waste material from agriculture without using up resources that we ourselves could use for ourselves. Fungi can be grown in the pitch black, so that reduces energy consumption. Many insects can be grown in far denser populations that like cows or chickens, and they don’t have nearly the same level of consciousness (that we know of) as cows or other mammals. So, even if we are still killing them, its arguably less unethical.
On top of that, consumption of insects has way lower risk of disease. Salmonella, worms, prions, etc. You can get those and others from mammals and birds, but insects are so different from us that it’s a lot safer for the most part. That being said, there might still be some risk we haven’t identified yet.
I’ve had a few different insect based portions of meals and they are great. If food scientists get to spend as much time in insects as they have had when traditional meats they will blow up as a protein source.
I always say that if McDonalds could make an insect based burger I would eat it in a heart beat
I’ve had baked crickets before, and they were okay. If I ate them more, I might get a palette for them, but I wouldn’t personally say that I liked them. But, I’d suck it up for the, you know, sake of the continuation of pleasant life on Earth.
I like to say that I’ll try anything once. But, I’ve sort of sworn off McDonalds for the most part for a few reasons. But, if they did make this sort of jump, I might try to encourage it with my buck.
The method I liked the best was baked with nuts and dried fruit like a trail mix. It was great in that since the texture worked great with nuts
See I’m of the opinion that the ultra rich should give up their private jets and yachts before the rest of us are made to eat literal bugs.
I for one will be eating the rich long before I eat any crickets.
Well, yeah, for sure. But, unlike chemical pollution and water misuse, the food is actually something the overall population can do something about on individual levels to have an effect. A few folks eating bugs won’t do much, but millions would. Whereas with pollution, companies produce millions of persons’ worth of pollution every year, some more. A private jet produces more pollution in one trip than my entire family does in a whole year. There’s nothing I or anybody else can do to offset that.
Don’t you think the person who owns the private jet could do something about that?
That’s my whole point.
Yes, they should do that as well.
I think there’s an idea that no one will eat them, so there isn’t a large investment into it. I know I for sure would though. I’m sure a lot of people would be grossed out at first, but I bet after seeing the cost difference they’d change their mind and at least try it.
People should be grossed out by chicken nuggets, and any other kind of “mechanically separated” meat or protein, like surimi… but just add a bit of flavoring, or a crispy coating, and they crave them.
Whether it’s tendons, eyes, gills or antennae, just turn them into a non-descript paste with funny shapes, and people will eat it.
Exactly. Everything is processed in these foods so who cares about the source
Worked for popplers.
I know there at least one R&D project looking into it. Just got to get the supply chain and people to buy in.
I’ve seen some grasshopper farms, they sell them fried whole as snacks, or powdered to add to any meal. There are also some growing cockroach farms in China, not sure how they sell them though.