Article

2018-12-04 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Climate change could force the world to say goodbye to cows

[Washington Examiner] n the 1973 sci-fi classic "Soylent Green," Charlton Heston's character faces a dystopian future in which a protein made from plankton is grown in test tubes to sustain an overpopulated Earth.

A new National Academies of Sciences study from 18 top scientists suggests that a similar cultured protein will be needed in the not-too-distant future to deal with the problems of population growth and climate change.

The new Department of Energy-funded study on environmental engineering released Monday doesn't suggest that switching the global diet to a lab-made protein will lead to the horrifying climax of "Soylent Green", but it does suggest that beef will have to be made more scarce.

The report finds that livestock farming could be responsible for as much as 14.5 percent of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for raising the temperature of the Earth. Cattle alone is responsible for almost two-thirds of that 14.5 percent, the study says.

Beef and dairy farming also require far more water per unit of protein produced compared to plant-based protein equivalents, the study says.

The study estimates that global meat production could grow as much as 12 percent by 2026 due to population growth and increasing demand due to rising standards of living in lower- and middle-income countries.

The environmental effects of this increase could be reduced by shifting global dietary patterns that de-emphasize animal-based protein, especially beef.

Not unlike "Soylent Green," the National Academies report says a variety of meatless protein products, including protein products grown from "animal and plant tissue cells in culture, are becoming available."

Somewhat related: The Mail - ~~Cock~~ & Bull story

Posted by Besoeker 2018-12-04 00:52|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 Cows or environmentalists. One of them has to go on the barbie.

Posted by gorb 2018-12-04 01:28|| 2018-12-04 01:28|| Front Page Top

#2 the Hindu's are not gonna like that

Posted by 746 2018-12-04 01:39|| 2018-12-04 01:39|| Front Page Top

#3 So tell me, do the cows yet outnumber the vast, massive herds of buffalo that used to roam the US? How much methane did they emit? And since your version of climate change is a fraud, do we really even care or should we care just enough to burn these people at the stake?

Posted by Silentbrick 2018-12-04 04:34|| 2018-12-04 04:34|| Front Page Top

#4 Think of the Children™! When we start colonizing the rest of the Solar System we want those (great- ?) grand-children to enjoy a nice juicy steak made to order from vat-grown protein. Hopefully they will get it cooked correctly at the time, say Medium-Rare instead of Well Done...

Posted by magpie 2018-12-04 04:59|| 2018-12-04 04:59|| Front Page Top

#5 Look at the riots against the gas tax in Paris. Now.. imagine what happens when these MORONS try to take away beef!

Posted by 3dc 2018-12-04 06:35|| 2018-12-04 06:35|| Front Page Top

#6 Plankton steak anyone?

Posted by JohnQC 2018-12-04 08:08|| 2018-12-04 08:08|| Front Page Top

#7 In the 1973 sci-fi classic "Soylent Green," Charlton Heston's character faces a dystopian future in which a protein made from plankton is grown in test tubes to sustain an overpopulated Earth

Except they moved on to other resources to make 'food'.

You a vegan? The Soylent Corporation is looking to expand a new 'organic' division. Think of it as a way to put less stress on old Mother Earth.

Posted by Procopius2k 2018-12-04 08:19|| 2018-12-04 08:19|| Front Page Top

#8 Think about it. Overpopulation and Climate Change - a pair of self-solving problems.

Climate Change would solve the Overpopulation problem which would stop climate change...

Posted by CrazyFool 2018-12-04 08:35|| 2018-12-04 08:35|| Front Page Top

#9 So when Roman England was 1C warmer than today, was that the cows? Or was it the Roman SUVs?

So confused...

Posted by DarthVader 2018-12-04 09:08|| 2018-12-04 09:08|| Front Page Top

#10 Crazy Fool, climate change is ongoing and natural, not like the faux "man-made" climate change the federally funded Lysenkoists proclaim.

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2018-12-04 09:36|| 2018-12-04 09:36|| Front Page Top

#11 Thirty-odd years ago, an article in Scientific American traced the beginning of agriculture - and cows - 8,000 years ago, to the start of a warming trend (not yet tagged climate change). The graph suggested were it not for the cow flatulence, we'd be smack in the middle of another ice age right now.

There's no news like recycled news!

Posted by Bobby 2018-12-04 09:39|| 2018-12-04 09:39|| Front Page Top

#12 Since we're likely heading for another ice age, I for one, welcome our bovine saviors especially medium rare filet mignon with an abundance of Hollandaise.

Posted by Warthog 2018-12-04 09:40|| 2018-12-04 09:40|| Front Page Top

#13 Personally I prfer my Soylent Green to be Vegan-Free!

Posted by Thrise Shomble3667 2018-12-04 13:27|| 2018-12-04 13:27|| Front Page Top

#14 They'll have to pry my cheeseburger from my cold dead hands... Yes really, They'll have to pry my cheeseburger from my cold dead hands

Because likely I'd have a heart attack first before this nonsense actually happens.

Posted by Glolush Whusotch4899 2018-12-04 14:11|| 2018-12-04 14:11|| Front Page Top

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