Biotechnology uses living systems to make products. Antibiotic resistance from overuse of antibiotics in livestock is one of the most serious health threats. Consumption of meat has increased dramatically from 1950 to 2008 due to population growth and increased wealth. Cultured meat production could significantly reduce environmental impacts by using 99% less land and water and producing 96% fewer greenhouse gases and 45% less energy compared to conventional meat. Diversifying meat production methods would increase resilience of the food system.

2. BIOTECHNOLOGY
USING LIVING SYSTEMS TO MAKE PRODUCTS

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

8. “ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IS ONE OF OUR MOST
SERIOUS HEALTH THREATS”
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
79%
13.5 M kg
19%
1% 1% 0%
Livestock
Humans
Aquaculture
Pets
Crops

9. EPIDEMICS

10. EPIDEMICS
April 2009 – April 2010
61 million infected
274,000 hospitalized
12,470 deaths

12. CONSUMPTION TRENDS

14. 1950 VS. 2008
Martin Zuidhof, University of Alberta

23. Photo: James Duncan Davidson

27. $cost
Chicke
n
Por
k
Beef
Cultured
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Source: USDA nominal prices
Process Optimization
Hardware Innovation
Scale Production
Population growth
and wealth effect
Diminishing subsidies
Environmental costs

28. ENERGY MEAT
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1960 2012
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2012 2050
Nuclear
Renewable
Fossil
Quadrillion
BTUs
?
Intensive
Organic
Alternative
Million
Tons
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration Annual Energy Review 2011, UN FAO
DIVERSIFICATION IS RESILIENCE

29. • 99% less land
• 96% less water
• 96% fewer greenhouse gases
• 45% less energy
Source: Tuomisto et al, Environmental Science & Technology (July 2011)

36. ISHA@NEW-HARVEST.ORG