An investment of nearly $1.5 million, sourced from taxpayer money, was recently allocated by the Department of Defense to a company that specializes in the production of lab-created, fungus-based meat. The enterprise in question, known as The Better Meat Company, employs fermented fungal proteins as the core methodology for its synthetic meat cultivation.
The individual helming the operation, Paul Shapiro, also happens to be an active financial contributor towards Democratic initiatives. The proceeds amassed from the grant are earmarked for the establishment of a ‘bioproduction facility for mycoprotein ingredients’. These components, noteworthy for their shelf-stability, high protein and fiber concentrations, and dehydration capabilities, form the basis of the company’s faux-meat products.
Leveraging a bioreactor, The Better Meat Company fosters the growth of fungal roots, nourishing them with water and nutrients until they evolve into a fairly fluid, gray solution. Once strained, this mixture undergoes a transformation, culminating in the company’s end product.
A representative from the Pentagon elucidated on the motive behind the funding, explaining it as a support mechanism for the creation of a bioproduction facility focused on protein types marked by shelf-stability, high protein and fiber content, with the capacity for rapid deployment in maintaining the sustenance needs of armed forces dispersed across the globe.
‘Investments are being channeled towards more traditional protein sources such as chickpeas and tofu. Our department is not immersed in any research pertaining to ‘lab-grown’ or ‘imitation meat’, nor is there a foreseeable future where such protein substitutes appear in the MREs of our service members,’ continued the Pentagon spokesperson.
Interestingly though, this grant does allocate funds towards the creation of a facility for mycoprotein ingredients, the very element instrumental in the creation of The Better Meat Company’s synthetic meat. When queried if said facilities would be utilized by The Better Meat Company to manufacture faux-meat within or post the grant period, the Defense Department remained unresponsive.
There has been past discourse where the Defense Department has projected intentions of incorporating alternative meat into the diets of their personnel in an effort to minimize their carbon footprint. Following heated backlash, they rescinded this initiative in July, which makes the recent funding towards The Better Meat Company seem somewhat counterintuitive.
According to The Better Meat Company’s website, they firmly believe that the future of meat production hinges on fermentation. They express an ambitious intent to pioneer a transformation within the meat industry, introducing an innovative methodology to cultivate their faux-meat products.
Certain viewpoints criticize the Defense Department’s funding, fearing it indirectly supports the production of imitation meat. One such critic warned about the potential ridicule from foreign adversaries, arguing the focus of the Pentagon should remain undiverted, concentrating on matters pertinent to national security rather than financially aiding the production of faux meat.
Health issues associated with the consumption of synthetic meat have been spotlighted in previous research. Certain faux meat products have been linked to complications including hives and throat swelling. The drive behind The Better Meat Company’s venture into faux meat production appears to extend beyond pure business motivations.
Shapiro, the mastermind behind the company, has a background in animal advocacy, having formerly held the position of Vice President at the Humane Society. In one of his addresses regarding his venture, he confessed that ‘We are utilizing a large number of geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, and other animals that are largely considered delicacies,’ which frames his motivation for innovating the meat industry.
His political affiliations lean towards the Democratic party, evident from his past campaign contributions to prominent Democrats including Ex-New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, and Representative Jamie Raskin from Maryland. Translating words into actions, his commitment to both sustainability and the Democratic cause forms the cornerstone of The Better Meat Company’s operations.
While the Defense Department’s investment in The Better Meat Company opens up exciting new possibilities in sustainable protein production, it’s essential that any potential public health concerns are thoroughly examined, the monopoly of value alignment between financial contributors and beneficiaries is scrutinized, and the ultimate objective of national security is not undermined.