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KriosXVII t1_itje49d wrote

Reply to comment by naossoan in World's largest protein factory uses fermentation to produce 20,000 tonnes of protein annually for use in fish food in China by mutherhrg

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

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mule_roany_mare t1_itk784u wrote

I want to subscribe to your newsletter.

Where do you find apocalyptic synth butter studies?

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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."

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