By 2050, it will take 100 billion land animals to provide the world’s population with meat, dairy, eggs and leather goods. Maintaining this herd will take a huge, potentially unsustainable toll on the planet. What if there were a different way? In this eye-opening talk, tissue engineering advocate Andras Forgacs argues that biofabricating meat and leather is a civilized way to move past killing animals for hamburgers and handbags.
INTRO DISCUSSION Answer the questions
Are you vegetarian? Why / Why not? If you could eat or use products that have been grown instead of killed, would you? Do you think they would be the same?
Which are more important to consider – the practical or moral problems of our current food industry?
Do you think this kind of food and goods production is a real solution to today’s problems? Why / Why not?
COMPREHENSION True or False?
1. In the next few decades, we will need over 200 million animals to support the world’s population.
2. His solution involves the cloning of animals from tissues.
3. One of the problems with our system today is the spread of disease among animals.
4. He calls leather a “gateway material” that will introduce people and make them more comfortable with bio- fabrication.
5. The process he plans to use to get the original cells harms the animal, and is the only bad thing about the new technology.
6. Using bio-fabrication means we will have less control over the final product.
VOCABULARY Match the word and the definition
1. Realize
A. Having or showing compassion, usually in ethically correct behaviour.
2. Raise
B. A group of farm animals.
3. Herd
C. To encourage or persuade.
4. Toll
D. Something that often encourages the use of other, related products. Often used in discussions about drugs.
5. Sentient
E. To become aware of something, to understand clearly.
6. Humane
F. To adjust, refine or improve.
7. Gateway
G. (In context) The cost or damage of something....