Rep. Ro Khanna
Rohit (Ro) KhannaKhanna calls for ‘honest, reflective patriotism in America’. Democrats call on the Education secretary to address stealthing at federal level. Showdown: Pelosi dares Liberals to sink the infrastructure bill MORE (D-Calif.) Recently, I wroteNearly 10 [percent]Today, nearly half of the world’s population is suffering from hunger. He called upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA), to invest in alternative proteins research in order to improve the sustainability of food systems and resilience to end hunger worldwide.
Khanna is not the only member of Congress who wants to see more dollars for agriculture research and development (R&D). This will help ensure that animal-free protein is available. House Appropriations chair Rosa DeLauro
Rosa DeLauroManchin subverts Biden, leaving his agenda limbo. No, Senator Manchin Americans can’t wait for paid leave. Your must-read holiday list from members of Congress MORE(D.Conn.) recently recognized the need for America to be a leader within the clean protein space. Tell USDAAs a way to combat climate change, and add resilience to our food system, we should pursue parity for research funding for alternative protein sources.
It’s not secret that raising billions more animals for food is at heart of many of humanity’s most pressing problems. environmental degradationTo Pandemic risk… and more. With groups like the United NationsAnd World Health OrganizationThe benefits of shifting to plant-based foods,Public policy seems to be an important role in helping us move in the right direction.
One example: The Netherlands, which is increasingly concerned about the impact of its livestock sector upon the Dutch environment has created a 25 billion euro plan($28 billion USD) to simply pay farmers to raise fewer livestock. But that doesn’t address the root cause. There is an increasing demand for animal proteinsThis policy is unlikely to change the environmental effects of animal agriculture in Holland to another country. Like the Amazon rainforest.
Congressmen like Khanna or DeLauro propose a smarter, more cost-effective approach. Instead of paying farmers billions of dollars to raise fewer animals than they need, why not spend hundreds of millions of money on R&D to create meat-type experiences that are free from animals? We were already funding research into ways to produce energy without fossil fuels, so it is time to fund R&D into creating meat-type experiences without animals.
Although it is still a small fraction of the USDA’s total support for animal agriculture (for example), Recent estimates put the value at half a trillion dollarsThis federal support will help increase U.S. meat production. Nonprofits such as the Good Food InstituteYour contributions have been vital in helping us to win a $3.5 MillionNational Science Foundation grant for UC-Davis to research cultivated meat (real meat derived from animal cells) and a $10 millionUSDA grants Tufts funding to do the same.
Former USDA secretaries in both Republican and Democratic administrations seem excited about such promising technology that could help satisfy humanity’s meat-tooth in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Ex-Trump administration, for example. Sonny Perdue, Ag SecretaryIt was noted that there is new technology for stem-cell protein growth. Some people may be concerned about losing their markets but shouldn’t the United States be focused on how we can grow and nourish people more efficiently?
Similar to the Clinton administration. Dan Glickman, Ag SecretaryHe shared common ground with his Republican counterpart when it was observed that cell agriculture could supplement conventional agriculture and concluded that innovation offers many additional ways to feed a hungry world.
The United States is already behind Asia in the rankings Production of clean energy technologiesThese include solar panels and lithium ion battery. We can still be a leader in clean protein, which will be required to sustainably feed humanity meat well into the future. The right incentives for R&D are available to those who want to recreate the meat experience. It is such a large footprint on the Earth.The federal government can help the U.S. keep its leadership position as a global meat basket.
Paul Shapiro is the CEO at The Better Meat Co. and the author Clean Meat: How Growing Meat without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World.