Meat the Future

Meat the Future focuses on one man's journey to fulfill his dream of creating slaughter free, real meat. This is a burgeoning industry, soon to be the norm, and Liz Marshall's film captures the early stages of this new, exciting and very important development in the way people will be eating in the years ahead. It would be ideal if everyone became a whole food vegan, but cultivated meat allows for those who are simply unwilling to forego real meat. The film explores the efforts of others engaging in this new way of making meat and shows some of the technical, financial as well as legal hurdles involved in bringing cultivated meat to the table. Meat the Future is well made and informative about a very important subject.

The future is now! Meat from cells designed to grow in an ecologically efficient way, harmless to animals and clean is one massive proposition to humanity. With growing incomes and populations in the developing world, the demand for animal-based meat is expected to double by 2050. The sheer economic waste from clear-cutting land for animal grazing and meat production is killing the planet. By going cell-based for our consumption, would reduce land use and climate emissions by earth saving amounts. Animal Agriculture already takes up 45% of Earth's inhabitable land and our current food system by extractive capital is beyond its capacity limits.

Enter Meat the Future, which tells a fascinating story of a trail-blazing doctor, Uma Valeti, determined to save billions of human lives and trillions of animal lives. Viewers are brought into the exclusive and secretive world of Silicon Valley where technology and biology meld to solve a meat induced climate crisis. The film methodically showcases experts who discuss the complex issues surrounding cultivated meat from all angles of environmental, bio-medical and tissue engineering. It also delves into the huge problem of antibiotics and resultant antibiotic immunity in communities. The film does not look to do a shock and awe number but rather educates in a smart way in the face of all the scientific complexities from this nascent industry.

In essence, this captivating and truly avant-garde film is a gift to audiences in it presents a truly first hand look at life altering technology that could potentially change the arc of the humanity's co-existence with the planet.

The subject about the meat itself is really interesting... but the documentary fails to choose direction.

There is an interesting story to tell about Uma Valeti's trajectory. The technology behind the meat itself is interesting. The people behind the company, the adversaries... But the documentary doesn't choose which story to tell, so it ends up being superficial in all of them. Storywise It seems to keep going nowhere. Camera and editing feel sloppy at times ( filterwheel changes and zooms left in that don't fit the style of Doc, sloppy obvious audio cuts... that maybe weren't necessary ).

Some questions about the technology were left unanswered... for instance: CO2 production per pound of grown meat vs 'harvested' meat...just mentioning off screen that methane production 'will' be less then... if you don't give numbers it feels more like marketing/hyping then documenting.

It just felt like the documentary makers followed the company for a few years, and then just put all the images chronologically next to each other... and forgot to tell a storyline... or tried to tell 4 different ones.

I am sincerely disappointed, cause I think this is a missed opportunity... but maybe we'll see an updated Doc in a few years.

I so enjoyed this documentary for many reasons - not the least of which - was understanding what is actually possible for a healthy planet. I learned so much and loved the informative and clear understanding the film brings to people. It gave me a sense of hope as to what is possible for better living and less harm to animals. Thank you taking a complex issue and for putting it all together in a way that is accessible and clear! In todays world it's easy to fall prey to a sense of cynicism that things can't change and that we can't change. Meat The Future shows what is possible and real and provides in depth information and explanation about dynamics of meat culture. It was an eye opener and is an excellent tool for education, discussion and debate. I would love to see this film presented in school curriculum as it would engage students in healthy dialogue and discussion. Meat The Future touches ethics, science, innovation, the art of what's possible and how we can all play a role.

A must watch film given our current times! Amazing filmmaking documenting a story and revolution that is destined for mainstream consumption. Something that everyone needs to be thinking about and eating asap!