The goal of Impossible Foods Inc. is not only to protect animals but also to create more sustainable sources of food by creating replicas of meats, eggs, cheese and other animal-based foods with plant derivatives. Patrick Brown, a biochemistry professor at Stanford University, founded the company, based in Redwood City, California. The company raised an impressive $108 million in funding from many wealthy donors including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing who support the business and its cause.

Brown started the company while he was on sabbatical when he realized his science background could impact the animal industry and reduce its carbon footprint. He creates beef substitutes with plant-based molecules, which taste, smell and feel like beef. Brown and his team of scientists are working to improve the taste and the cost-efficiency of the product.

With the global population expected to rise to almost 9.5 billion humans by 2050, Impossible Foods hopes to provide food for everyone, especially those who are in poverty. Moreover, Impossible Foods strives to be environmentally friendly. It argues that a quarter-pound burger patty will save as much water as a 10-minute shower, reduce 18 miles of greenhouse emission gas and free up 75 square feet of farmland.

Impossible Foods’ model is not only environmentally friendly but also has the potential to contribute to poverty reduction in religiously vegetarian countries like India. India’s population growth is concerning despite the fact that the nation’s economy is growing at a fast pace. The Gross Domestic Product increased 4.5 times and the country itself is producing enough food to feed everyone; however, many women and children are still starving in India.

Almost 40% of the fruits and vegetables and 20% of the food grains produced in India are lost due to an inefficient supply chain and do not reach consumers. Hunger and poverty in India could be reduced by Impossible Foods invention of the plant-based burger.

When you get the same amount of protein that you need daily and it is produced using 95% less land, 74% less water and 87% less greenhouse gas emissions, there is no reason to oppose Impossible Foods’ idea.

Currently, Impossible Foods is working on how to be cost-effective and make the taste more similar to real meat. As the company grows and develops further it will make a huge impact on the global food chain supply and further reduce poverty around the world.

– Gulyn Kim

Photo: Flickr