157. (Thanksgiving Replay) Meat the Future: How Paul Shapiro is Brewing Superfoods at Better Meat Co.
Grow Everything Biotech Podcast
How the Alt-Protein Field Has Evolved Since 2018
Paul explains growth, hype, and why cultivated meat commercialization has proven slower and costlier than expected.
In this Thanksgiving replay, we revisit our conversation with Paul Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of Better Meat Co, who's pioneering the use of mycelium-based proteins as a sustainable alternative to animal meat. Paul shares his remarkable journey from starting an animal welfare organization in high school to becoming a biotech entrepreneur. He explains how fungi fermentation creates protein-rich, meat-like textures in less than 24 hours without the environmental toll of traditional agriculture. The episode explores the science behind mycoprotein, the challenges facing the alternative protein industry, the need for government investment in biomanufacturing, and why fungi may be the key to feeding both Earth and future space travelers. Paul also discusses Better Meat Co's recent $31 million Series A funding and their mission to make sustainable protein accessible at scale.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
- (00:00:00) - Could Fungi Replace Factory Farms Forever?
- (00:01:00) - Welcome: TEDx MIT, Planetary Action & What's Growing
- (00:03:00) - Intelligence Beyond Brains: Reflecting on Michael Levin
- (00:06:00) - Thanksgiving Special: Gratitude for the Biotech Community
- (00:10:00) - Meet Paul Shapiro: From Activist to Mycoprotein Pioneer
- (00:13:00) - Origin Story: Fighting for Animals Led to Building Better Meat
- (00:19:00) - Alt Protein 2.0: What's Changed Since the 2018 Hype Cycle
- (00:24:00) - The Subsidy Problem: Why Meat Gets Billions & Clean Protein Gets Nothing
- (00:31:00) - Mycoprotein 101: Why Fungi Beat Plants for Meat Texture
- (00:38:00) - Engineering Neurospora: 24-Hour Fermentation at Scale
- (00:43:00) - Designing Super Strains: Breeding Microbes for Performance
- (00:48:00) - Creating Craveable Protein: Flavor Science & B2B Strategy
- (00:51:00) - Space Food Systems: Why Astronauts Will Farm Fungi, Not Cows
- (00:56:00) - Biomanufacturing Infrastructure: The $31M Series A Story
- (01:00:00) - Industry Reality Check: Cultivated Meat's Path Forward
- (01:03:00) - Beyond Food: Mycoremediation & Paul's Business for Good Podcast
- (01:05:00) - Closing Thoughts: Solving the Flavor Challenge & Scaling Impact
Links and Resources:
- Better Meat Co.
- Time's Best Inventions of 2025
- Paul Shapiro
- Clean Meat Novel by Paul Shapiro
- Homeworld Collective
- Cascade Bio
- 33. Purple Reign, A Purple Tomato with a Genetic Twist, Nathan Pumplin of Norfolk Healthy Produce
- 83. Bottoms Up: Microbe Mixology with Zbiotics' Zack Abbott
- 156. When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form
- John Werner - TEDx
- The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Topics Covered:
developmental biology, morphology, morphospace, planarians, electroceuticals, bioelectricity, tissue regeneration, biomedical applications,
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
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