Chapter 137: Cultured Meat (3)

Campbell was enthusiastic when Young-Joon decided that all the patents from the A-Bio Cancer Laboratory would be distributed free of charge. He even scheduled a few things after their meeting as he didn’t think it was necessary to draw out the meeting.

However, Campbell canceled all of them within ten minutes of meeting Young-Joon.

“Mr. Ryu, let’s take a deep breath... Let’s take our time thinking through this” Campbell said, flustered. “This is completely different from the new drugs you have made before. You’re competing with different companies within the same industry when you develop new drugs, but cultured meat is turning an entire industry upside-down. You know what I mean, right...?”

“I know.”

“As a politician, I am pretty familiar with cultured meat due to the food crisis and environmental issues. That technology is not supposed to replace traditional livestock overnight. It is supposed to compete with the traditional livestock industry for a long period of time and then slowly move to cultured meat.”

“I see.”

“But what you’re talking about, Mr. Ryu, seems to be something that can be realized in a short period of time.”

“Would you like to do it over a long period of time?”

“There is going to be mass unemployment if you do it right away. The reason that primary industries are so scary is because there are so many industries rooted in it,” Campbell said. “For example, A-Gen might take a hit even though it seems like they are unrelated. One of the biggest consumers of antibiotics produced by pharmaceutical companies is the livestock industry because they have to feed it to livestock. The distributors that sell the meat, the companies that dispose of the waste, and even the research and development industry that breeds livestock... The research and development industry alone has a six-billion-dollar market. If cultured meat disrupts this industry, the entire market disappears into thin air. There will be no need to breed animals.”

“Well, even if they take a temporary loss, those people probably won’t take a major hit like long-term unemployment since they just have to change their field of research.”

“That... Yes, that is true, but the biggest problem is the farm owners who grow livestock. It’s going to be a pain if they fight back about their right to preserve their livelihood,” Campbell said.

“The traditional livestock industry will still be maintained even if there is cultured meat. Publishing companies made a huge deal about how paper books were going to disappear when e-books were developed, but they are fine, aren’t they? And they are coexisting with things like art books.”

“You’re saying that the traditional industry will become premiumized, just like how people look for wild, organic products?”

“Yes.”

“That will happen to a certain extent, but not all farms will be able to survive by labeling them as premium. They need a second option.”

“That is why I want to speak to you. The cultured meat industry will create tons of new jobs. Would you be willing to help farmers change their industries?”

“Change their industries?”

Campbell tilted his head in confusion.

“Mr. Ryu, changing industries in a primary industry like livestock is different from closing down a restaurant and reopening it as a bar after remodeling the place. What are the farm owners going to do with that rural land they have left after getting rid of all their livestock?”

“Make them farm.”

“Farming?! That’s ridiculous. The agriculture industry is already saturated. How are they supposed to use their small plot of land to compete with existing farmers who spray pesticides on their farmland with an airplane?”

“It will be a little different from existing farming. They will be producing the base material for cultured meat.”

“What?”

“Existing cultured meat developers emphasize the fact that cultured meat can protect animals as their biggest advantage, right? They say that it is safe for vegetarians as well.”

“Yes.”

“But there is one secret that cultured meat developers are hiding, and that is the limitation of cultured meat in protecting animal rights.”

“A limitation?”

“If you artificially grow animal cells, where do you think those cells are grown in?”

“Well, like a nutrient-rich solution...?”

“That’s right. Those nutrients include all the different kinds of growth factors, vitamins, amino acids, sugars, and hormones. You can artificially match them to a certain extent, but you will still reach a limit eventually. So what can you do? Currently, animal cell cultures use FBS.”

“FBS?”

“Fetal bovine serum. It refers to appropriately processed bovine serum. You collect cow blood, settle the blood cells, treat the plasma, and then use the serum. It uses the various nutrients in the cow’s blood to culture animal cells.”

“Ah...”

“It’s the same for cultured meat. Cultured meat uses FBS as well. It also uses cow’s blood. They compromise with animal rights by drawing blood instead of slaughtering them. Sensitive vegetarians would probably refuse to eat meat if they knew this since it’s made by exploiting cow’s blood.”

“I see.”

“And FBS is extremely expensive. It has to be since you have to remove invisible bacteria, viruses, and blood cells, and you have to check the quality of it to make sure there is nothing left. You need a skilled scientist and expensive equipment like centrifuges,” Young-Joon said. “That’s why cultured meat is expensive. The reason why one hamburger patty costs millions of dollars to make is because of the FBS.”

“Hm...”

Campbell stroked his chin in thought.

“Since you’re saying that you can dramatically reduce the unit price of cultured meat... Have you found something to replace FBS?”

“That’s right,” Young-Joon said.

“Is it a plant?”

“Precisely. Hormones and growth factors are normally incompatible between plants and animals because the structure is completely different, but I found a plant species that can be used to grow cultured meat with some processing.”

Campbell knew exactly what Young-Joon meant.

“Alright. So, you’re trying to say that the plant species will have to be mass-produced when the cultured meat industry becomes the major meat industry, right? And you’re asking the government to help existing livestock farm owners change their business to that?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re taking livestock farm owners and adding them to the cultured meat industry by using the land that they already have for livestock.”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Of course. And one more thing. Mr. Ryu, do you think you could slow down the commercialization of the cultured meat technology?”

“How?”

“By releasing the technology you have over the span of five to ten years instead of releasing it at once. To give cultured meat and traditional meat to coexist.”

“Hm.”

“... Please.”

“Alright. We do have to minimize the damage to existing farms.”

“Thank you,” Campbell said, relieved. “Mr. Ryu, I’m saying this out of worry, but do not feel guilty if this technology reforms existing livestock farms and puts them out of work.”

“...”

“Cultured meat is not just a technology that is required because of picky vegetarians. The food crisis and environmental problems caused by population growth are much closer than most people realize. If you don’t start this now, it will be too late. This advancement is a good thing,” Campbell said. “And it is inevitable for people’s jobs to change as technology develops. And it’s the government’s job to minimize the noise in that process. I am grateful that you have pointed out the new jobs that will be created by replacing FBS or whatever that is. You can leave it to me from here.”

“Thank you.”

“But I think it would be a good idea to talk to other governments about this, not just the United States. If this is difficult for you, I can do it for you. How does that sound?”

“Sure.”

“Great.”

With a bright smile, Campbell shook Young-Joon’s hand.

* * *

“Alright, sure,” Mckinney said. “I will do that, Mr. Ryu. What’s that plant called? I will buy it right away. We just have to gradually reduce and get rid of the livestock we have right now and grow plants, right? And then we have to change the slaughtering and processing operations to facilities that grow cultured meat and test for bacteria infections or something?”

“Yes. That would be great.”

“Tekeyson Foods will go in that direction. Save some of the farms and businesses and sell traditional meat at a premium... I can picture it already. How much support did the government say they were going to give?”

“President Campbell is going to plan the budget and announce the policy.”

“Alright. That’s a relief. It’s great that you are not going to release your technology at once but do it over a few years,” Mckinney said enthusiastically. “Mr. Ryu, I knew that one day, the cultured meat technology was going to turn the livestock industry upside down. I think it’s much better to do it in a planned way with your cooperation and the government’s. I am a supporter of the free market, but things are bound to go wrong when you leave a technology like this to the market. Companies will pit themselves against each other and spread rumors.”

“That could happen.”

“If you announce this, there may be some livestock companies who resist the change and try to maintain the status quo, such as Red Meat. They are our competitor, but they are good at politics. Be careful.”

“U-um, Mr. Ryu...” Diego interrupted. “I’m sorry, but why are you bringing us this powerful technology instead of doing it yourself?”

“Because I don’t want to be in charge of it,” Young-Joon replied calmly.

“You don’t want to manage it?”

“This business will bring in a lot of money, but I am already busy with developing new drugs. I don’t want to spend my energy on something other than running the A-Bio Cancer Lab, A-Bio, and A-Gen.”

“... Alright. But when you invest a technology like this, you usually take equity in the company. I don’t think we will be able to pay for the technology because we’re only a venture company.”

“Then A-Bio will take the equity, but I don’t intend to participate in running the company,” Young-Joon said.

* * *

In a flower shop in the suburbs of Springfield, Lila, the florist working there, met an unusual customer. It was an Asian man wearing a mask, and he came in with four big security guards. The man kept mumbling to himself in a quiet voice.

‘What did you say the name of the plant was?’

—It’s called Kochia. It’s over there.

Rosaline replied.

‘Where?’

—Here.

Rosaline popped out of Young-Joon’s body and led him to the Kochia plant. It was an ornamental and perennial plant that was about a meter tall. It was commonly used to decorate gardens.

—You have to collect these leaves, grind them up, boil them at ninety-five degrees, and then age them for a day at room temperature. The restriction enzymes will break down the starch as the plant cell wall bursts and make a lot of EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor).

Rosaline said.

—After that, you just have to dilute it in water and pour it into a container with the stem cell. The cells will multiply quickly as the EGFR is stimulated.

‘Does it not matter if the EGFR isn’t mutated like hyperprogression in cancer cells?’

—It doesn’t matter because you are mass-differentiating stem cells into muscle fibers, and cells that are undergoing differentiation have high EGFR expression anyway. All you have to do is put in a lot of the EGF that can stimulate the EGFR. And Kochia leaves have a lot of that.

“Alright.”

Young-Joon picked up the Kochia plant that was a meter tall.

“How much is this?” he asked.

“It is two hundred dollars. Will you be growing it at home?”

“Um, yeah.”

As Lila was completing the transaction, Lila asked, “Are those men outside with you?”

“Men?”

Young-Joon turned to where Lila was pointing. Three men wearing suits were staring at Young-Joon from the entrance. When he left the shop, they talked to him first.

“You’re Mr. Ryu Young-Joon from A-Bio, right?”

“Yes.”

“We’re from the Blue House.”

“The Blue House?”

“Yes. We’re here about a letter from the White House about the livestock industry. Can we talk to you for a minute?”