10 chapters across the catalog
The USDA has approved the sale of lab-grown chicken produced by California-based companies Upside Foods and Good Meat. This cultivated meat is grown in stainless steel bioreactors using animal cells rather than traditional slaughter methods. Initial distribution is planned for high-end restaurants in San Francisco and Washington D.C. associated with chefs Jose Andres and Dominique Crenn.
NPR Coverage of No-Kill Meat and Environmental Claims
NPR reporter Allison Aubrey provides a detailed account of tasting cultivated chicken, describing the production process as similar to brewing beer. Proponents claim this technology reduces the environmental footprint of meat production by using less land and water. Critics and skeptics question the long-term health implications and the philosophical stance of vegans and vegetarians toward cell-based animal products.
Cultivated meat grown from animal cells in steel vats is moving toward commercial availability following a green light from the FDA. Proponents argue that lab-grown meat reduces the environmental impact of livestock, which accounts for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Industry executives expect price parity with conventional meat within five to ten years.
Celebrity Chefs Promote Lab-Grown Meat in Restaurants
Reuters reports that lab-grown meat could appear in high-end U.S. restaurants as early as 2023. Cultivated meat companies have recruited celebrity chefs like Jose Andres and Francis Malman to showcase the products. The hosts compare this marketing strategy to the use of influencers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marijuana Cultivation and the Absence of Seeds
The conversation turns to the evolution of marijuana quality, noting that modern "high-grade" buds rarely contain seeds compared to the "junk" weed of previous decades. A chat room expert, "Nick the Rat," explains that seeds are a sign of poor cultivation or male plants. Adam Curry briefly recounts his experience growing plants in a basement in Belgium.
Camp Bastion Security Breach and Poppy Cultivation
A British parliamentary committee found that commanders were "complacent" during a 2012 Taliban attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. A BBC report initially mentioned that poppy cultivation was allowed right up to the base's perimeter fence, though this detail was reportedly removed from subsequent broadcasts.
UNODC Report, Afghanistan Opium Production and Record Harvests
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan reached a record high in 2013. Cultivation increased by 36% over the previous year, with the farm-gate value reaching nearly $1 billion. The hosts note that the largest increases occurred in provinces where international military bases are located.
UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey, Production Statistics and Monsanto
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its 2010 Afghanistan Opium Survey, reporting a sharp drop in opium yields due to a plant infection. Adam Curry analyzes the report's data, noting that while yields are down, the actual area of cultivation remains unchanged at 123,000 hectares. The hosts mock the precision of the UN's census data regarding poppy-farming households.
A 15,000-square-foot warehouse called iGrow has opened in Oakland, marketed as the "Walmart of Weed." The store sells hydroponic supplies and offers courses on cultivation but does not sell marijuana directly. The hosts speculate that large corporations like Monsanto may eventually enter the market to provide seeds and nutrients to home growers.
Afghan Opium Production, Bloomberg Commodity Index
Bloomberg reports that Afghan opium prices have hit an eight-year low, with poppy cultivation falling 22% to 123,000 hectares. The hosts question how financial analysts can track illicit drug production with such specific dollar amounts and percentages. They suggest the opium trade is a "completely known industry" that is managed similarly to legal global commodities.
