David Kay, the first employee at Upside Foods and an MBA student at Harvard, offers a captivating look into the cultivated meat industry. He discusses the balance between environmental, health, and animal welfare messaging, and shares his unique journey from animal advocacy to the forefront of cultivated meat innovation. Key topics include significant challenges like political polarization, the distinction between cultivated and plant-based meats, and the recent FDA approval of cultivated pork fat. Kay emphasizes the vital role of collaboration and elite institutions in shaping a sustainable future for alternative proteins.
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insights INSIGHT
Centering Animal Welfare
Centering animal welfare, instead of just environmental or health concerns, is crucial in certain contexts.
This approach normalizes animal welfare as a serious ESG issue, especially in elite institutions.
insights INSIGHT
Institutional vs. Individual Change
Institutional change is more impactful than individual dietary change.
Many effective animal advocates aren't vegan or vegetarian, prioritizing institutional work.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Beef Jerky vs. Cashews
A study showed people eating beef jerky rated cows as morally less valuable than those eating cashews.
Our actions can influence our thoughts, highlighting the value of dietary change alongside advocacy.
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First published in 1975, 'Animal Liberation' by Peter Singer has been a pivotal book in the animal rights movement. It introduces the concept of 'speciesism,' the systematic neglect and exploitation of nonhuman animals. Singer argues that the interests of all beings capable of suffering should be given equal consideration, regardless of their species. The book critiques factory farming and animal experimentation, presenting alternatives and advocating for a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The revised edition, 'Animal Liberation Now,' updates the arguments to reflect current issues, including environmental impacts and the spread of viruses from factory farms[1][3][5].
David Kay shares his experience as the first employee at Upside Foods, offering a deep dive into the cultivated meat industry's challenges, successes, and political landscape. As an animal advocate who entered the alternative protein space, he provides unique insights on depolarising the conversation around cultivated meat and building bipartisan support.›
• Difference between focusing on environmental/health versus animal welfare messaging • David's journey from animal advocacy to becoming the first employee at Upside Foods • How cultivated meat differs from plant-based products as "real meat" grown from cells • Where hundreds of millions in investment funding goes in cultivated meat startups • State-level bans on cultivated meat and fighting political polarisation • How industry is organising through trade associations like AMPS Innovation • Importance of elite institutions in normalising animal advocacy • Recent FDA approval for Mission Barns' cultivated pork fat
Add David on LinkedIn to follow his work and learn more about his perspectives on the alternative protein industry.
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