In this video, Isha Datar examines the benefits of meat grown from cellular agriculture (in a lab) over meat harvested from animals.
Opportunities for further innovation and positive impacts on the environment and climate are a central emphasis.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video is focused on solutions to address the climate problem of meat consumption, which can be useful for learning about climate solutions.
This topic will be engaging for students because of the new and surprising innovations highlighted.
There are many opportunities for extension activities related to the topics covered in this video.
Additional Prerequisites
To provide deeper context, teach students about land-use demand related to animal agriculture, government subsidies for the livestock industries, and how the high concentration of animals in confined spaces can promote the spread of epidemic viruses and disease.
There is a transcript for the video that is available in 11 different languages.
The additional links provide more information about New Harvest, a cellular agriculture company.
Differentiation
Cross-curricular connections can be made with economics by further discussing the costs of cellular agriculture and subsides in the meat industry, which are mentioned in the video.
Invite students to imagine that they are on a marketing team for a company producing meat in a lab and challenge them to develop a consumer education campaign to encourage switching to lab-grown meat.
Allow students to do some further research on why meat consumption is so costly to the environment, climate, and animals.
For students interested in applying their knowledge to action, have them check out possibilities in adjusting their diets, lifestyle habits, and energy consumption to lead by example.
Scientist Notes
This 12-minute TED talk presents the state-of-the-art science for lab-grown meat and lab-grown proteins. The current state of animal agriculture, its land use, and its climate impact are discussed before a discussion of the potential development of animal-free proteins. As with many TED talks, this talk is focused largely on new and upcoming technological innovations, without discussing behavior changes (such as the demand for meat). Nonetheless, this resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
