I would like to take this opportunity to fist bump science, because thanks to the innovative people at Memphis Meats, it's now possible to grow our own meat from meat cells. CEO and cardiologist Uma Valeti explained in a YouTube video just how revolutionary the work behind their project is, and just how far reaching the prospects are for the meat industry and the environment as a whole. Their process enables the creators to use meat cells from animals without harming them to physically grow the meat instead — which not only spares the lives of these animals, but offers a solution to the sustainability of eating meat with a constantly expanding global population.
The result of the process? A solitary meatball that is displayed in the video — or, as Valeti calls it, "the meatball that changed the world."
"This is the first time a meatball has ever been cooked with beef cells, that did not require a cow to be slaughtered. This is a big and momentous occasion for us," explained Valenti. An added bonus? The process uses 90 percent less of the greenhouse gas emissions than traditional animal agriculture uses. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm all ABOUT not festering in a global warming disaster in my old age.
So how exactly does this process work? The harvested meat cells are given given oxygen and nutrients, which then grow meat that can be used in nine to 21 days. It might sound too good to be true, but Valenti assured that the meat created from this process is the same on a molecular and cellular level.
But how about on a deliciousness level? In order to test that, they brought in a professional chef to create aforementioned meatball. It sizzled in the pan and smelled the exact way regularly harvested meat does, cooking the same way that the chef had cooked with all the other beef he'd used in the past. It also looked fancy AF, but that might just be my mid-morning munchies talking.
According to their taste-tester, the meatball was a delicious, beefy success.
So what's next? Valenti has plans to expand this process to other meats like chicken and pork, and to hopefully integrate it into restaurants and retail by 2021. So keep an eye out for an environmentally and vegetarian-friendly meat hitting a grocery shelf near you — and get ready to kick all that tofu outta bed once and for all.
Learn more about the process in Memphis Meats' video here:
Images: YouTube
