What Is 100% Synthetic Beef? Why Bill Gates Says It Could Save The Plant

Bill Gates has some thoughts about how the richest countries in the world should eat, which he believes could have a significant impact on the planet.

In an interview with MIT’s Technology Review, Gates suggested some ways that could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including eating 100% synthetic beef – plant-based, lab-grown meat products.

In the interview, the Microsoft founder said, “I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef. You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time."

“Eventually, that green premium is modest enough that you can sort of change the [behavior of] people or use regulation to totally shift the demand. So for meat in the middle-income-and-above countries, I do think it's possible.”

Gates emphasized the work that companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have done with plant-based meats, telling the Technology Review that they “have a road map, a quality road map and a cost road map, that makes them totally competitive." He added, "As for scale today, they don't represent 1% of the meat in the world, but they're on their way."

Gates continued by discussing the shift to synthetic beef in relation to reducing methane emissions in livestock. He made mention of feeding cattle different food that could reduce these emissions by 20%.

But Gates does realize that 100% synthetic beef is not viable for “the poorest 80 countries” in the world. He said, “We’ll have to use animal genetics to dramatically raise the amount of beef per emissions for them.”

Gates addresses some of these climate issues in his new book “How To Avoid A Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need,” which was released Tuesday.