South Korean Scientists Make Beef and Rice Hybrid

ngl, this shit sounds delish.

But what has science done?

Reuters:

South Korean researchers have grown beef cells in rice grains in what they say is a major step towards achieving a sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly source of protein that could replace farmed cattle for meat.

Professor Jinkee Hong of Yonsei University in Seoul, who led the research published in the journal Matter this month, said the “beef rice” is the first product of its kind. It uses grain particles as the base for cultivating animal muscle and fat cells.

In the research, rice grains were treated with enzymes to create an optimal environment for cell growth, then infused with bovine cells that are cultivated to achieve the final hybrid product, which resembles a pinkish grain of rice.

Professor Jinkee Hong.

The beef rice contains approximately 8% more protein and 7% more fat than conventional rice. Hong noted the protein is 18% animal-based, making it a rich source of essential amino acids.

Priced at about $2 per kilogramme (2.2 lbs) and with a far smaller carbon footprint than traditional beef products, cultured beef rice could compete on grocery shelves, Hong said.

Unlike computer technology (AI), weird biotechnology would be relatively easy to regulate. At least you could regulate the distribution (because it’s not being distributed digitally over the internet). Maybe you can’t stop people from making this stuff in a lab.

But why are they doing it? Who is funding it? What is the application?

Surely, no one is going to eat this unless they are forced to?

I’ll look into it and get back to you.