Lab Meat: The Taste of a Green Future
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Chemistry, Biology, Health
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 →
Provided by ClimateScience
What it is
- 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 tips
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:
From the scientist review
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.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on youtube.com
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
