Lab Meat: The Taste of a Green Future
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Health
Authors: ClimateScience
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video provides an overview of meat production, the carbon and land footprints of meat production, and a step-by-step explanation of how lab-grown meat is made.
- This video describes the potential of lab-grown meat as a substitute for raising livestock, provided that the energy required to make it is sustainable.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This animated video is easy to follow and gives students enough information about the topic without being overwhelming.
Prerequisites
- It might be helpful to review the basics of cell division with students and the many types of stem cells now available to use for research and production.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Possible discussion/research topics for students to work in groups to explore:
- How does lab-grown meat compare to plant-based meat alternatives with regard to sustainability, resource use, or energy consumption?
- Are there certain plants that would make better substitutes than others?
- Does how they are grown affect their sustainability measurements?
- Would the lab-grown meats still have the same negative health effects as their animal-based counterparts?
- How do government subsidies affect the cost of meat and dairy from livestock? Does this affect the demand for these products?
- Other resources or lessons related to this topic include:
The resource provides innovative ways to limit CO2 emissions from meat production and also encourages the consumption of plant-based diets. This is recommended for students to reduce their carbon footprint from meat consumption.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
