I really appreciate this post (and discussion on it! see e.g. this thread), and am curating it.
One of the things I like is that it targets a key premise in the space (and establishes its importance). It’s quite useful to get a sense for the research being conducted. And I’m generally really excited for work on “how do we get to a factory-farming-free world?”
I should also say that it doesn’t seem appropriate (to me) to strongly update towards “it’s not important to lower price and improve taste and convenience of plant-based meat alternatives.” (I don’t think the post is seriously arguing for this, but figured that I would flag it.) The evidence in this post seems to push against a ~naive approach of “all you need to replace meat products is to make meat alternatives cheaper, tastier, and more available” — which is indeed a belief I’ve heard implied or stated in EA — and for near-term applications of PTC. But I have a pretty strong prior that price etc. affect adoption, and the evidence presented here was not enough to overrule that. I expect that without improvements in price and taste, we won’t manage to in fact transition to a very low-meat (or no-factory-farming) world (I’m thinking about school lunches, cheap burgers, etc. — things that are poorly measured by studies on students and the like). Those improvements seem to not be sufficient, though.
I like the recommendations listed in the conclusion (like a nudge against over-focusing on ~simplified taste equivalence (see also)). More work on nutrition and perceptions of plant-based meat alternatives, and more research about what will matter to younger generations seem particularly useful.
I should also say that it doesn’t seem appropriate (to me) to strongly update towards “it’s not important to lower price and improve taste and convenience of plant-based meat alternatives.” (I don’t think the post is seriously arguing for this, but figured that I would flag it.)
I agree, with emphasis on ‘strongly update.’
which is indeed a belief I’ve heard implied or stated in EA
This is especially helpful as people have (understandably) doubted this is the case.
I expect that without improvements in price and taste, we won’t manage to in fact transition to a very low-meat (or no-factory-farming) world
I’m probably somewhat less confident here and think there may be other paths.
I’m thinking about school lunches, cheap burgers, etc. — things that are poorly measured by studies on students and the like
I don’t follow this point—presumably students would be an ideal population for studying school lunches? I’m assuming I’ve misunderstood :)
more research about what will matter to younger generations seem particularly useful.
I really appreciate this post (and discussion on it! see e.g. this thread), and am curating it.
One of the things I like is that it targets a key premise in the space (and establishes its importance). It’s quite useful to get a sense for the research being conducted. And I’m generally really excited for work on “how do we get to a factory-farming-free world?”
I should also say that it doesn’t seem appropriate (to me) to strongly update towards “it’s not important to lower price and improve taste and convenience of plant-based meat alternatives.” (I don’t think the post is seriously arguing for this, but figured that I would flag it.) The evidence in this post seems to push against a ~naive approach of “all you need to replace meat products is to make meat alternatives cheaper, tastier, and more available” — which is indeed a belief I’ve heard implied or stated in EA — and for near-term applications of PTC. But I have a pretty strong prior that price etc. affect adoption, and the evidence presented here was not enough to overrule that. I expect that without improvements in price and taste, we won’t manage to in fact transition to a very low-meat (or no-factory-farming) world (I’m thinking about school lunches, cheap burgers, etc. — things that are poorly measured by studies on students and the like). Those improvements seem to not be sufficient, though.
I like the recommendations listed in the conclusion (like a nudge against over-focusing on ~simplified taste equivalence (see also)). More work on nutrition and perceptions of plant-based meat alternatives, and more research about what will matter to younger generations seem particularly useful.
Thanks for your kind words, Lizka!
I agree, with emphasis on ‘strongly update.’
This is especially helpful as people have (understandably) doubted this is the case.
I’m probably somewhat less confident here and think there may be other paths.
I don’t follow this point—presumably students would be an ideal population for studying school lunches? I’m assuming I’ve misunderstood :)
Agree!