What if your beef burger didn’t come from a cow? In the biotechnology industry, scientists are exploring solutions to reduce the environmental impact of food production. Think lab-grown meat, genetically engineered tomatoes, and jalapeños modified to be less spicy. Yummy, right?
According to “Lab-grown meat: How it’s made, sustainability and nutrition” on Live Science, cultivated meat is produced using an older technique known as in vitro muscle tissue regrowth, Researchers collect healthy stem cells from livestock and grow them in a nutrient-rich medium ( traditionally containing fetal bovine serum) that mimics what cells would receive inside an animal. Over time, these cells mature into muscle fibers—meat—without the need to raise or slaughter livestock.
This approach could dramatically reduce the resources required for traditional farming. Cultivated meat has the potential to lower carbon emissions, conserve water, repurpose land, and reduce contamination and disease. As the global population grows, it becomes even more important to explore sustainable ways to produce protein without exhausting Earth’s limited resources.
But biotechnology isn’t only changing how we grow meat, it’s transforming our crops, too. Genetically engineered and gene-edited plants are being developed to resist diseases, repel pests, increase yields, and boost nutritional value. The U.S. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is collaborating with farmers and biotech companies to create more sustainable and resilient crops. Significant advances include nutrient-enhanced bananas, rice, and sweet potatoes. Even jalapenos have been modified to be milder and more commercially successful. Biotechnology is actively reshaping our food system, from tweaking the traits of fruits and vegetables to creating entirely new protein sources. These innovations are essential as we face the challenges of population growth, climate change, and food insecurity. As research expands globally, scientists must continue addressing these issues ethically and responsibly. It’s our duty as humans to care for the planet by exploring sustainable ways to feed ourselves and future generations.
Yay genetically engineered food, right?
References:
https://www.bio.org/what-biotechnology
https://www.livescience.com/lab-grown-meat
https://www.ift.org/policy-and-advocacy/advocacy-toolkits/biotechnology-and-genetic-engineering?
https://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/plants-and-crops/biotechnology
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