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Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

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Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#2
Headline is a dramatic overstatement.

> In an announcement today, the Bay Area company said it was close to finishing a large-scale production facility in Oakland, California that can produce as much as 1 million lb (454,000 kg) of meatless meat a month.

1. Facility not done.

2. Facility not tested.

3. Capacity not demonstrated.

4. Regulatory approval -- pending?

This headline needs editing.

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#4

Headline is a dramatic overstatement. > In an announcement today, the Bay Area company said it was close to finishing a large-scale production facility in Oakland, California that can produce as much as 1 million lb (454,000 kg) of meatless meat a month. 1. Facility not done. 2. Facility not tested. 3. Capacity not demonstrated. 4. Regulatory approval -- pending? This headline needs editing.

Ok, edited.

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#6

Headline is a dramatic overstatement. > In an announcement today, the Bay Area company said it was close to finishing a large-scale production facility in Oakland, California that can produce as much as 1 million lb (454,000 kg) of meatless meat a month. 1. Facility not done. 2. Facility not tested. 3. Capacity not demonstrated. 4. Regulatory approval -- pending? This headline needs editing.

> 4. Regulatory approval -- pending?

Their product is already on the market, so I don't see how there would be any more red tape other than certifying the new facilities.

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#7

I wonder how this kind of burger compares to lab-grown burgers. I would imagine this process is significantly cheaper than lab-grown – in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this?

> in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this?

That's the beauty of capitalism. "We" don't have to do anything, if it's cheaper people will buy it and the replacement will happen automatically.

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#8

I wonder how this kind of burger compares to lab-grown burgers. I would imagine this process is significantly cheaper than lab-grown – in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this?

The major problem with lab-grown burgers is that cell culture is quite difficult and expensive to do at even small scale. There are obviously efforts to radically decrease those costs, but some things are going to be quite hard to do cheaply and at large scale.

For example, on their own, cells have zero defense against invading bacteria/fungus. And yet they're being grown in high-nutrient media where any bacteria would thrive and possibly outcompete the growing meat cells. So you probably need a very sterile environment, which isn't so easy to do at very large scale.

In contrast, these burgers are made using materials we know how to handle safely and can produce at large scale. These should be quite a bit easier to get to market. As for taste, I think both have challenges, but can't speak as much to that because I haven't had either.

Full disclosure: Pat Brown was on my PhD committee in grad school

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#9
post #7

I wonder how this kind of burger compares to lab-grown burgers. I would imagine this process is significantly cheaper than lab-grown – in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this?

> in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this? That's the beauty of capitalism. "We" don't have to do anything, if it's cheaper people will buy it and the replacement will happen automatically.

Not to nitpick, because I agree with your point, but that's the beauty of _economics_, not capitalism. Non-capitalistic economies (e.g. socialism) also optimize for high-yield products that require minimal labor, the difference being who owns the means of production (i.e. factories): the workers, the consumers, private shareholders, the state, etc.

Re: Impossible Foods says it is close to finishing a large-scale production facility

#10
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> in which case, why don't we just replace all burgers with this? That's the beauty of capitalism. "We" don't have to do anything, if it's cheaper people will buy it and the replacement will happen automatically.

Not to nitpick, because I agree with your point, but that's the beauty of _economics_, not capitalism. Non-capitalistic economies (e.g. socialism) also optimize for high-yield products that require minimal labor, the difference being who owns the means of production (i.e. factories): the workers, the consumers, private shareholders, the state, etc.

This is false. A capitalist society provides the rewards and drives for people to create innovative products. Socialism restricts those. I'm sorry you think it's the opposite
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