'You'll Get Used to the Taste' Bill Gates Advises Eating Synthetic Meat to Protect Earth

In his continuing effort to cut greenhouse emissions, Bill Gates has called for the world's richest countries to turn to synthetic meat.

(Photo : Mike Cohen/Getty Images)

He encouraged the countries to implement policies that promote the consumption of 100% sustainable synthetic beef.

In his book 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster' the Microsoft founder features various recommendations addressing climate change and the inevitable crisis that follow. Mr. Gates, who has invested in many synthetic meat corporations, insisted that federal regulations reducing greenhouse emissions should be enforced.

Related Article: Bill Gates New Book: Zero-Carbon Future, Green Premium, Others

MIT Interview

Gates outlined his idea for synthetic meat replacing livestock in an interview with MIT Technology Review magazine.

"You can get used to the difference in taste, and the claim is that they'll make it taste even better over time," he said.

"Soon, the green premium would be modest enough that it can adjust the [behavior of] individuals or use legislation to change the demand entirely," he added.

Mr. Gates went on to say that this would not apply to the poorest countries, at least not yet, saying they "must use animal genetics to increase the volume of beef per emission significantly for them."

He added that he believes that it is possible to make the switch to artificial meats for "middle-income-and-above-countries." Still, He said: "It's going to be one of those where, wow, you have to monitor it annually and see, and [it's challenging] politics.

He claimed that there are bills and regulation that says it needs to be labeled, essentially, as laboratory garbage, to be sold. That is because the industry does not want them to use the 'beef' label.

Last July, the Global Carbon Project released studies demonstrating that cows emit large amounts of methane gas, which experts say will cause climate change havoc.

Scientist Dr. Rob Jackson of Stanford University, who is heading the project, said: "Emissions from cattle and other ruminants are nearly as large as those from the methane fossil fuel industry."

"People joke about burping cows without realizing how big the source really is."

The Global Carbon Project also highlighted that methane gas emissions are increasing by 9% annually, which they said is the equivalent of doubling Germany's overall annual emissions.

Gates' response to his suggestions for synthetic meats was seen after the interview was written.

Needless to say, he faced a backlash from many politicians and the beef industry itself.

Backlash and Criticisms

The Republican Senator from Texas, John Cornyn, wrote "count me out" on Twitter.

  Gate's backing of synthetic beef was also quashed by Thomas Massi, the Kentucky Republican Delegate. On Twitter, he wrote, "I think Americans are going to eat real beef for a while since we're $27.9 trillion in debt."

Major members of the livestock industry also urged the billionaire to conduct further livestock production research after he called for measures that require "100 percent synthetic beef" to be consumed by people in rich countries.

(Photo : Edson Saldaña on Unsplash)

Gates Stood Firm

In his book solving climate change, Gates has claimed that it will be "the most amazing thing humanity has ever done," he even compared it to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also defended himself against being "a rich guy with an opinion" in an excerpt shared by The Guardian.

ALSO READ: FDA or USDA: Who Should Oversee the Regulation of Genetically-Engineered Animals?

For the latest news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!