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PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recently launched an X-Prize style $1 Million Reward to make In Vitro Meat - in plain English this is meat that has been grown artificially in (say) a tank rather than meat from an animal that has been slaughtered (view the press release here).

I think that it is a noble idea on the part of PETA and appears to me to be in keeping with their aims as an organisation, even if the idea is a little outlandish and at first glance a little - well a little plain weird. Growing meat in a VAT divorced from any animal is an elegant solution to people’s desire to consume animal protein, it is also a staple of science fiction whether it is growing replacement body parts for injured soldiers or just growing food for the proletarian masses, but whilst it is a nice gesture I am sure the $1 million isn’t going to influence anybody.

I am in two minds about this, whilst I am not a vegetarian I am rather fond of Quorn - the thing that I like best about it is the fact that it is weird sci-fi food and I always imagine it is grown in big tanks somewhere in a futuristic factory. I bet that big business would like nothing better than the ability to grow meat in a vat, you get those pesky farmers out of the way no need to even pay lip service to things like our ethical responsibility to animals, food becomes even more just another consumer product.

I think though that we as human beings are omnivorous creatures, we are designed to eat a variety of foods, a bit of meat a bit of fish some grains, some pulses, a lot of fruit and veg… there is not necessarily anything wrong with eating animals and fish - but whilst alive those animals should be treated with respect, factory or intensive farming should be banned. When animals are slaughtered they should be killed in calm and as stress free environments - when we eat meat we should remember that an animal has given it’s life, we should be uncomfortable and we should give this decision very serious thought and consideration.

This is what may very well be wrong with the idea of vat grown meat, it may allow us to sidestep our responsibilities, but then perhaps that is the whole point. Right now I don’t know if it is a good idea or not, but doubtless time will tell.

I do know that food is something that should be prepared with love and savored with friends not bought as a ready meal and quickly nuked in the microwave.