What do Bill Gates, Google founder Sergey Brin, Alphabet CEO Eric Schmidt and Tyson Foods have in common? They all see a very bright future for alternatives to conventional meat.
Investing in the future
After trying Beyond Meat’s plant-based chicken strips, Mr. Gates invested in the company, declaring, “What I was experiencing was more than a clever meat substitute. It was a taste of the future of food.”
Mr. Brin also put his money where his mouth is, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to create the first “clean meat” hamburger (clean meat production involves growing real meat in meat fermenters, bypassing the inefficiencies of cycling grains through animals). In just the past two years, four clean meat companies have been founded, and production costs have fallen by 98 percent.
Good for the world, and your wallet
Last year, at the Milken global summit, Mr. Schmidt declared that plant-based meat is one of six technological innovations that will improve life for humanity by at least ten-fold in the fairly near future. Why? Because of the ability of plant-based meat to deliver high-quality protein to the developing world, while requiring far fewer resources and creating far less pollution than conventional meat.
Last year, Tyson Foods launched its first venture capital fund, and the fund’s very first move was to co-invest with Mr. Gates in Beyond Meat. The meat giant sees the investment as a smart business move, because the plant-based meat market sector is about to explode.
The new food future
Right now, plant-based meat represents about one-quarter of one percent of the meat market, but that is about to change, and smart investors like Bill Gates and Tyson Foods are getting in on the ground floor. Indeed, Lux Research predicts that by 2054, plant-based meat will command one-third of the global meat market. There are multiple ways to help animals and create a more sustainable food supply. One way, which is being pioneered in the private sector, is creating alternatives to animal-based meat that consumers want to purchase, because they are delicious, price competitive and convenient. Talented entrepreneurs, food scientists and investors are coming together to create the new food future. Everybody eats, and almost everybody eats meat, so there is tremendous good to be done and fortunes to be made. Will you join the revolution?
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FAQs
Right now, plant-based meat represents about one-quarter of one percent of the meat market, but that is about to change, and smart investors like Bill Gates and Tyson Foods are getting in on the ground floor. Indeed, Lux Research predicts that by 2054, plant-based meat will command one-third of the global meat market.
Are plant-based meats the future? ›
The future of plant-based meat alternatives is undoubtedly promising. As the market continues to expand, we can expect even more innovation and improvement. Already, these products are becoming increasingly realistic in terms of taste, texture, and appearance.
What will replace meat in the future? ›
Therefore, in this review, the major meat alternatives (e.g., plant-based meat analogues, edible insects, and cultured meat) are introduced as promising protein sources that can be utilized in the near future for supporting and complementing the limited sustainability of the traditional meat production system.
Is plant-based meat losing popularity? ›
Sales of plant-based meat are decreasing, showing changing tastes and preferences even among vegan and vegetarian consumers.
Who will live longer vegans or meat eaters? ›
How Much Longer Do Vegans Live Than Meat-Eaters? There is no consensus in scientific studies that vegans live longer than meat-eaters. However, studies do show that vegetarians, when compared with people who eat meat, have lower incidences of chronic diseases that are leading causes of death.
What is the negatives about plant-based meats? ›
Con #1: Plant-based meat can be more heavily processed than animal meat. As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.
What will future humans eat? ›
WHAT ARE THE FOODS OF THE FUTURE
- Seaweed: laver and wakame.
- Pulses: broad bean, lentil, adzuki (or red soya bean), mung (or green soya bean), black-eyes peas, bambara groundnut, marama bean, black bean and soya bean.
- Cactus: nopal.
By 2050, global meat consumption is projected to reach between 460 million and a staggering 570 million tons.
What would happen if the world stopped eating meat? ›
“It would be a huge net win for the environment,” Dutkiewicz said. By one estimate, a complete phaseout of meat over 15 years would cut as much as one-third of all methane emissions and two-thirds of all nitrous oxide emissions. Water use would fall drastically. Biodiversity loss would slow.
Why is Beyond Meat dying? ›
The company said that declines in both domestic and international retail and food-service channels were driven by decreases in volume of products sold, reflecting demand softness in the plant-based meat category.”
Total plant-based food dollar sales dipped 2% last year to $8.1bn, while volumes were down 9%. Sales of plant-based food through US retail dropped in 2023 in value and volume terms, with meat and seafood alternatives seeing significant declines, new findings show.
Will plant-based meat become cheaper? ›
Plant-based affordability
Plant-based options are currently priced at a significant premium across categories. We anticipate this gap shrinking as plant-based producers increasingly scale up production, achieve economies of scale, and seek price parity with their conventional competitors.
Will McDonald's use Beyond Meat? ›
Introducing the McPlant, a juicy burger made with a plant-based patty, co-developed with Beyond Meat. It's sizzled on a flat iron grill, then topped with slivered onions, tangy pickles, crisp shredded lettuce, Roma tomato slices, ketchup, mustard, mayo and a slice of melty American cheese on a toasted sesame seed bun.
Is Beyond Meat going to survive? ›
Beyond Meat is in “survival mode” with a “going concern” risk possible for the plant-based pioneer due to deteriorating trends in its business and negative cash flow, according to a TD Cowen report.
Why is Beyond Meat tanking? ›
Beyond Meat stock is past its expiration date
The company spent too much money in its infancy and is now stuck with more debt burden than can be supported by its sales. Interested investors would be better served by looking for other names with a more promising future.
What is the future of Beyond Meat? ›
In 2025, analysts expect Beyond Meat's revenue to finally rise 7% to $345 million as it narrows its adjusted EBITDA loss to $78 million. However, I would be skeptical of that outlook unless its revenue actually stabilizes on a sequential basis.
What is the future of artificial meat? ›
Lab-grown meat could be the future of food — but possibly not in our lifetimes: experts. Lab-grown meat is made from taking just a few cells in a lab. It could be a critical tool in the fight against climate change, but experts say it won't be a reality in our grocery stores any time soon.
Are plant-based meats a fad? ›
But recent trends and sales data show popularity has cooled. Let's take a look. U.S. plant-based meat sales are shriveling as the industry experiences a “precipitous decline.” In 2023, U.S. retail sales of plant-based meat and seafood dropped 12% to $1.2 billion when compared to the same period in 2022.
What is the projected growth of plant-based meat? ›
The U.S. plant-based meat market is on a trajectory for significant growth, with new projections showing an increase from $2.25 billion in 2023 to $5.25 billion by 2029.
