Do you think that promoting alternative proteins is (by far) the most tractable way to make conventional animal agriculture obsolete?
Evidence for alternative proteins being the most tractable way to make conventional animal agriculture obsolete is fairly weak. For example, similar products (eg, plant-based milk, margarine) have not made their respective categories obsolete.
Instead, we do have and we will continue to need a multi-pronged approach to transitioning conventional animal agriculture to a more just and humane system.
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Do you think increasing public funding and support for alternative proteins is the most pressing challenge facing the industry?
Alternative proteins is a varied landscape so I imagine that the bottlenecks will be pretty different depending on the particular product, company, and approach. Unfortunately I am not up to date on details with regard to the funding gaps in this area.
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Do you think there is expert consensus on these questions?
Unfortunately there is not. There also just arenāt that many experts in this area in the first place.
I learned a lot although I wish i would have been more clear and asked about the tractability of alternative proteins to price parity (instead of just the tractability of āpromotingā them). Because:
Plant-based milks are still more expensive (source) and maybe not as nutritious (e.g. less calcium, B12, etc.) so I think they (and many other existing products) may not be a reliable indicator of the potential of this field to make āconventional animal agriculture obsoleteā.
I think their potential to replace factory farming lies in the viability of them becoming more/ājust as cheap, tasty, nutritious as conventical animal products but Iād love to know if you (and other experts) think thatās probably a pipe dream.
Iād love to be corrected if Iām wrong (although Iām sure youāre very busy) and also wanted to say thanks again.
Do you think that promoting alternative proteins is (by far) the most tractable way to make conventional animal agriculture obsolete?
Do you think increasing public funding and support for alternative proteins is the most pressing challenge facing the industry?
Do you think there is expert consensus on these questions?
Evidence for alternative proteins being the most tractable way to make conventional animal agriculture obsolete is fairly weak. For example, similar products (eg, plant-based milk, margarine) have not made their respective categories obsolete.
Instead, we do have and we will continue to need a multi-pronged approach to transitioning conventional animal agriculture to a more just and humane system.
~
Alternative proteins is a varied landscape so I imagine that the bottlenecks will be pretty different depending on the particular product, company, and approach. Unfortunately I am not up to date on details with regard to the funding gaps in this area.
~
Unfortunately there is not. There also just arenāt that many experts in this area in the first place.
Thanks so much for your insight!
I learned a lot although I wish i would have been more clear and asked about the tractability of alternative proteins to price parity (instead of just the tractability of āpromotingā them). Because:
Plant-based milks are still more expensive (source) and maybe not as nutritious (e.g. less calcium, B12, etc.) so I think they (and many other existing products) may not be a reliable indicator of the potential of this field to make āconventional animal agriculture obsoleteā.
I think their potential to replace factory farming lies in the viability of them becoming more/ājust as cheap, tasty, nutritious as conventical animal products but Iād love to know if you (and other experts) think thatās probably a pipe dream.
Iād love to be corrected if Iām wrong (although Iām sure youāre very busy) and also wanted to say thanks again.