naossoan t1_itjap2r wrote
Why don't they just make stuff like this to feed humans instead of animals/fish and somehow make it palatable?
Growing something to feed to something else when we could just eat the first thing makes no sense to me....
KriosXVII t1_itje49d wrote
It's complicated, but the answer is mostly social acceptability. We've had the technology to synthetize edible fats from hydrocarbons since the 1940s. We're not doing it because we currently don't need to, and people prefer eating plant and animal based fats. I've seen a recent scientific article theorizing that we could make a factory for a few billion dollars that could make enough edible fat for all human beings in an apocalypse scenario. https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=EVE19460906-01.2.29
https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/brave-new-butter
mule_roany_mare t1_itk784u wrote
I want to subscribe to your newsletter.
Where do you find apocalyptic synth butter studies?
cybercuzco t1_itx9gz0 wrote
It would not be difficult mein Fuhrer! Nuclear reactors could, heh... I'm sorry. Mr. President. Nuclear reactors could provide power almost indefinitely. Greenhouses could maintain plantlife. Animals could be bred and slaughtered. A quick survey would have to be made of all the available mine sites in the country. But I would guess... that ah, dwelling space for several hundred thousands of our people could easily be provided." "Well I... I would hate to have to decide who stays up and who goes down." "Well, that would not be necessary Mr. President. It could easily be accomplished with a computer. And a computer could be set and programmed to accept factors from youth, health, sexual fertility, intelligence, and a cross section of necessary skills. Of course it would be absolutely vital that our top government and military men be included to foster and impart the required principles of leadership and tradition. Naturally, they would breed prodigiously, eh? There would bemuch time, and little to do. But ah with the proper breeding techniques and a ratio of say, ten females to each male, I would guess that they could then work their way back to the present gross national product within say, twenty years."
Redqueenhypo t1_itjy458 wrote
Because humans don’t just ingest raw nutrients into their open mouths like robots. I could replace my grandma’s chicken soup with a scoop of protein powder, two tablespoons of olive oil, and a glass of salty water and get the same nutrients but I won’t do that bc that would be a disgusting and depressing meal. Also I don’t want to be the dipshit telling poor people to eat literal bacteria instead of meat. We’re not supposed to propose starvation rations even worse than crickets.
naossoan t1_itjzujw wrote
I didn't mean it like eating this in it's literal cultured form... But like...IN something.
Also, I'm probably not the best person to discuss it because I do treat food as "something necessary for me to survive" and don't really care in which form that nutrition comes in as long as it doesn't taste like shit. If I could eat Matrix Slop every meal of every day and be in perfect dietary health, I would. Bonus points if I could change the flavour but would be perfectly fine with the "tasty wheat" default flavour described in the film 😂
I consumed nothing but Soylent for over a year straight, soooooo.... Yeah. I don't give a single fuck about food. It's basically something I have to consume in order to continue living. At least that's how I see it.
mutherhrg OP t1_itjupjn wrote
Not many people want to eat raw protein. Doesn't taste good, it's doesn't have the raw taste, texture and "feel" of actual meat. There's probably a major ick factor there too. Might be useful for mixing raw protein into stuff like flour, protein bars or protein powder one day maybe.
[deleted] t1_itjix6t wrote
We are. Companies with alternative meat like beyond meat and impossible foods are actually producing soy protein hemoglobin through yeast in giant fermentors. It is added to make alternative meat more.. “real”. We are getting a lot better at making good tasting things this way, it will just take a while and a lot of investment.
Economics always get in the way. No one wants to pay $10 /lb for Chumbucket patty when they can pay $3/lb for the krabby patty. This means it takes much longer for chum bucket to scale and improve its product.
naossoan t1_itjsk0e wrote
Right, yeah. I've had beyond meat at A&W before. Canadian fast food chain. I actually like it a lot more than their real burgers, except for I get a weird chemically taste from subsequent burps which are very unpleasant. Quite odd.
IMSOGIRL t1_itjqg60 wrote
They do, it's called tofu. But not everyone likes to eat tofu only, so fish farms exist.
It's why corn and soybeans are is the most plentiful crops in the US but people in the US still eat meat that is fed off the corn and soy.
valkrycp t1_itk7s9d wrote
That's why he said palatable.
I'm in the same boat. I suck at eating veggies from a taste and texture perspective, so I resort to meat. Would love to swap but tofu and alternative products right now just taste off to me so far. I have cut down on a lot of dairy though, using almond milk and coconut milk and creams for just about everything.
ingeba t1_itko3vy wrote
Have you tried fried, marinated tempeh?
BluestreakBTHR t1_itktgdy wrote
When I went vegetarian for a few years, I tried to like tempeh. The texture was… not pleasant. I liked Seitan, but without witchcraft it typically tasted like flavored bread.
If there are some good protein alternatives, I’m all ears. Challenge rating: no tree nuts
ingeba t1_itl13qd wrote
Chickpeas? As lone source or with broad beans as falafel?
BTW: I'm totally on your side wrt tofu
BluestreakBTHR t1_itlap3y wrote
Oh yeah. I grew up on chickpeas, so they’re a staple in my pantry.
I like tofu, if it’s prepared properly and is a vehicle to deliver flavor. Tempeh just … never did it for me. It always tastes like packing material.
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