Part 9/12:
The dialogue then explores broader bioengineering frontiers such as cellular agriculture, which involves lab-grown meat and seafood. This innovation aims to reduce the environmental pressure of traditional livestock farming—an inherently land- and resource-intensive activity. With over 60% of fish consumed globally being farmed or captured through aquaculture, developing lab-based alternatives could drastically lessen overfishing and habitat destruction.
While consumer acceptance and regulatory hurdles remain significant challenges, the potential environmental benefits position cellular agriculture as a key component of a sustainable future. The speaker advocates for reducing reliance on conventional animal agriculture to alleviate land use conflicts and lower carbon emissions.