One of the biggest challenges faced by the human race is producing sustainable food supplies. Without nutrition, no one can survive. Traditional methods of farming and raising animals for protein have worked for centuries. Although they can produce food, they require land, resources, and labor. It can be difficult to produce sufficient amounts of quality food.
Technology has advanced communication, transportation, science, medicine, and every other aspect of society. Tech has also been a part of food production for a long time and recent advances have improved the ability to produce food and sustain sources.
Machines and robots
There are corporations such as Aleph Farms of Israel that used advanced tech for producing sustainable amounts of food but the use of machines is not new. Even the simple plow that was pulled by a horse or mule was a simple form of machine. Combines, harvesters, milking machines, as well as irrigation systems, have been in use for decades and help to streamline the production of plant and animal food sources.
Modern technology has produced robots with the ability to gently pick delicate vegetables and fruit. Machines never tire, don’t need breaks for lunch and water, and reduce the amount of labor required to run a farm. Drones now also play a role in the food production and delivery chain as they can bring groceries to the homes of customers who don’t have the mobility to shop.
The Impossible burger
Many fast food places now offer an “impossible burger” in which the patty is made from plant sources. This is a good option for vegetarians and it also reduces the environmental impact of the meat industry. These protein sources use 72-99% less water and 47-99% less land. Animals are not raised for slaughter with plant-based substitutes. These “meats” are supplemented with protein to provide the nutrition that normally comes from animal sources.
Cultivated meat
Perhaps the most amazing technological advance in producing sustainable foods is cultivated meat. This incredible breakthrough allows the production of real meat without having to raise animals. Steaks are produced in laboratories by using bovine muscle cells to grow pieces of meat.
The steaks created taste like real meat and have the texture and nutrition of a steak that comes from a cow. No animals are slaughtered, no huge tracts of land are required, and no food is necessary to feed cattle. Enough meat to feed the world may eventually result and the levels of production are sustainable.
Another advantage of cultivated meat is that it can be produced anywhere. In fact, in 2019, Aleph Farms produced cultivated meat on the International Space Station. Observant Jews will be happy to note that the Chief Rabbi of Israel, David Baruch Lau, has ruled that cultivated meat is kosher. This is largely due to the fact that no animals are killed.
Technology has made many parts of daily life faster, easier, and better. It has also been applied to food production, resulting in the ability to produce sustainable sources of healthy, delicious foods.