Startup claims to have created first test tube meatball

Re:Startup claims to have created first test tube meatball by gabemart on Wednesday February 03, 2016 @09:25AM (#11026552)

>However, I am worried that it is going to be similar to how the diamond industry has been able to defend themselves from manufactured/synthetic diamonds.

I think the difference is that diamonds are inherently a luxury good.

I don't think that Michelin-starred restaurants or families who buy organic grass-fed beef are going to switch to synthetic meat anytime soon.

But, unlike diamonds, the vast majority of the meat market is cheap, price sensitive, and commodified. I think a two dollar synthetic meat burger is a much easier sell than a twenty thousand dollar synthetic diamond.

A huge amount of change is possible even if synthetic meat gets zero traction at the premium end of the market.

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Re:Startup claims to have created first test tube meatball by ziszis on Wednesday February 03, 2016 @09:31AM (#11026582)

Maybe.

However, You can see the same debate being played out around genetically modified foods. Fear is being created about the products. As opposed to diamonds that are worn on the outside, these are things being put in your body. I think it is fair to expect that the PR campaign from entrenched food companies will be significant here.

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Re:Startup claims to have created first test tube meatball by jobu on Wednesday February 03, 2016 @11:48AM (#11027524)

Yeah, the diamond industry has done a pretty good job of portraying manufactured diamonds as fake and worthless, so most jewelry and diamond dealers won't deal with them. When my wife lost the diamond from her ring a couple years back it was impossible to find one, and some jewel dealers seemed offended that I would ask for such a thing.

It's really unfortunate, because the diamond industry is notoriously evil (blood diamonds, De Beers, etc), and science is awesome. We really wanted a "science diamond"

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