Topic: Food Technology

NPR recently featured a segment testing plant-based and dehydrated egg alternatives as real egg prices soar. Investors are pouring billions into food startups, including an Israeli company developing plant-based fried eggs, as the industry looks for ways to transition consumers away from traditional poultry products.

Scientists in Michigan are developing technology to use microbes to convert plastic waste and inedible plant material into nutritious protein, fats, and sugars. The project aims to simultaneously address the global plastic pollution crisis and food shortages. The hosts express skepticism about the palatability and safety of eating plastic-derived nutrients.

The New York Times and Wired are reporting on the advancement of lab-grown "cell-based" chicken and the development of fatter, faster-growing insects for livestock feed. The hosts express disgust at the push for these "climate-friendly" protein alternatives.

The 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) features new categories such as food technology and space tech. Companies are showcasing 3D printers capable of producing plant-based meat alternatives, while Amazon expands its presence in the healthcare sector with its pharmacy division. Critics question the classification of "impossible pork" and other food products as consumer electronics.