Bill Gates said recently that he believes rich nations will help the global fight against climate change by consuming only herbal meat products instead of beef.
In a recent interview with Technology Review, Gates discussed his new book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” and highlighted the benefits that rich nations could produce by switching to “100% synthetic beef.”
“I think all rich countries should switch to 100% synthetic beef,” Gates said when asked how countries can help reduce methane emissions when it comes to food production. “You can get used to the difference in taste and the statement is that they will make the taste even better over time.”
The philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft explained to the press that he hopes that the switch to vegetable proteins will help fight methane emissions produced by animals.
“The Impossible and Beyond have a road map, a quality road map and a cost road map, which makes them totally competitive,” Gates said, referring to popular herbal meat companies. “As for today’s scale, they are not 1% of the world’s meat, but they are on the way.”
Gates told the Technology Review that he acknowledges the alternative argument that cow escape is seen as an unpopular approach, but said the benefits of vegetable protein deserve a change for some countries.
“In the end, that green premium is modest enough that you can change [behavior of] people or use regulations to completely change demand, “Gates said.” So for meat in middle-income countries and above, I think it’s possible. “