Chapter 139: Cultured Meat (5)

There were five people in the Neil Simon Theatre located on Broadway, New York. They were covering their faces with a hat, and sunglasses, and talking in Korean.

Can we really be watching a musical right now? Jung Hae-Rim asked while fixing her sunglasses.

Didnt you say that you wanted to? Young-Joon replied.

Well, I didnt know we would watch it under these circumstances.

Jung Hae-Rim pointed to the big television in the theaters waiting room. Employees of livestock companies who were gathered in Washington City were waving banners and carrying signs condemning President Campbell. One of them was caught on the screen.

[MIND YOUR OWN MEDICINE]

It was a message to just stick to developing drugs.

I think theyre talking about you, Park Dong-Hyun said.

I think so.

Young-Joon nodded like it wasnt a big deal.

Well, at least they are not trashing you openly because its right after you made the cancer lab.

Honestly, it doesnt matter if they trash me, Young-Joon replied while fiddling with his ticket.

To be honest, Im curious. Is there something youre counting on? Cheon Ji-Myung interrupted.

Counting on?

It just seems like youre so nonchalant in these circumstances.

The livestock workers just ran out because they were surprised. They will adapt when the policy from the government will go smoothly. It will die down once weve successfully transformed one place as a demonstration.

A demonstration?

Tekeyson Foods is going to turn three of its farms into Kochia farms, and it is going to change the facility associated with them into a cultured meat production facility.

But you said that the taste and texture doesnt compare with regular meat yet?

There are some foods where that isnt very important, like meatballs or sausages. Tekeyson Foods will be able to adapt because they also produce things like that.

Hm.

The Life Creation Team took a breath of relief.

That would certainly cut down on a lot of the fuss they are making, Bae Sun-Mi said.

At that point, experts on food statistics who can back up the cultured food will step forward.

Experts on food statistics?

Like Tanya Manker. I saw her TED Talk before. A lot of food experts predict that a food crisis will come in ten to twenty years. The crisis is closer than we think. It will be late if we dont start cultured meat now, Young-Joon said.

The public didnt really care even if they talked about it because most developed nations have plenty of food, and the idea of a food crisis didnt really make sense to them; thats why change has been so slow. But this time, its going to be different. I have something in mind as well

Youre saying that people like Tanay Maker are going to step up?

Yes. She might even contact me.

But sir, farm owners of traditional meat companies might be satisfied if the government gives them Kochia and supports them, but would the businessmen?Jung Hae-Rim asked.

The businessmen

I think that Mr. Mckinney is a very unusual case because most executives at big companies dont like change, and they dont like venture companies like Eat the Green growing because of a new technology that could disrupt their power, right?

Sure.

And its even worse if Tekeyson Foods demonstrates successful change and takes the lead in the cultured meat market. Other livestock companies will try to challenge them and drag them down.

Hey, Cheon Ji-Myung tapped Jung Hae-Rims shoulders like he was baffled. Our CEO is a master at beating people like that, dont you know that?

Yes, but I couldnt tell what you were going to do Jung Hae-Rim trailed off.

Science always reveals the truth, right? The musical is about to start. Lets go inside, Young-Joon said as he pointed to the theater entrance.

* * *

There was a protest denouncing Campbell in front of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Guarantee the right of farmers to maintain their livelihood!

We condemn the hasty policy!

Limit the definition of meat to those produced from traditional livestock! The crowd was pretty big. The impact was quite strong considering that the protest was organized only a few days ago. That was how impactful the cultured meat technology was on the existing livestock market. The government had sent the livestock companies a letter about the policy regarding the cultivation of Kochia, but it wasnt accepted easily. There was no need to grow livestock for cultured meat. It also didnt require additional processing like slaughtering and deboning since it was produced as a chunk of flesh.

From the livestock companys perspective, this seemed like a terrifying technology that was going to take away their livelihood. It was like a Mercedes was driving by them while they were pulling carriages. It was a technology that didnt need horses, hay, or coachmen; it was a transportation vehicle that started with only a gas pedal and one that had much better braking power. That was what cultured meat felt like to livestock farmers.

I dont understand that, Mckinney said as he watched the TV. I mean, its not like the already-made cultured meat is going to disappear because they are against it. There are tons of businesses in the world that go out of business because of technological advancements, but does the government give them guidelines to change their business? All they do is give them a little money.

He put his feet up on the table and turned to look at his secretary.

Right?

Yes, sir.

I dont know if people are just stupid or if they cant perceive reality because they are so comfortable Cultured meat was a ticking time bomb that was going to go off in the livestock industry someday, and it exploded in the safest way possible under the control of Doctor Ryu and the government. Why cant they see that? They would be able to secure their livelihood if they followed the guidelines from the government and changed businesses as Doctor Ryu said.

Complaining, Mckinney poured himself a glass of whiskey and took a few sips.

Speaking of which, is our demo farm and facility going well?

Of course. The renovation is almost complete, and it can start right now, the secretary replied.

Mckinney displayed his remarkable decisiveness and began changing his business even before Eat the Green and Young-Joons announcement. He transformed three farms and one facility into a pilot case.

It was a stroke of genius that I made a deal with Doctor Ryu so early on.

Thanks to that, Mckinney was able to catch that extremely important piece of information a little bit faster than everyone else and move fast. He didnt have to see if everything added up or not; Mckinneys business instincts were telling him to listen to Young-Joons cultured meat plan.

Tell me about how the business is going, Mckinney said.

First of all, we moved five hundred eighty-one cows, three thousand forty-seven chickens from Bellwood Farms to Tiffton Farms.

We moved them there because they built a new bar, right? Is there enough space?

Yes, they have room.

Thats good.

And we tore down the barn, removed the concrete floor, and planted Kochia at Bellwood Farms. Its a popular ornamental plant, so they ordered three hundred full-grown trees from a garden shop.

Get all of them while you can. They are going to be sold out soon.

Yes, sir.

And they are probably picking the Kochia leaves and sending them to the facility Has the facility been replaced?

The CEO from Eat the Green came and helped us set up the facility. We installed fifty one hundred liter incubators and trained the staff again.

And it wasnt difficult?

They were all afraid because they had to grow animal cells, but they said it was pretty simple because it wasnt for research and they just had to follow a recipe.

And they didnt hate it?

To be honest, the farms and workers at the facilities are very happy.

I would think so. You would have to be a psychopath to actually like slaughtering live animals, cutting open their stomachs and gutting them with blood splattering all over. People just do it because society needs it and it makes money. But with cultured meat, youre growing it on a plastic dish, so it feels better and its cleaner.

Yes, and they said that its fun. The farmers love it, too. Its easier to look after Kochia than livestock.

And it doesnt feel good to send their beloved animals to the slaughterhouse. I know because Ive done it before.

Yes, sir.

We have to support Doctor Ryu and Eat the Green. If our farm and facility go well, we have to send out a press release and tell them weve successfully changed industries. Thats respectful to them and its good for us. Tell the PR team to get that ready.

Yes, sir.

* * *

After the performance, Young-Joon took the contact number that Kim Chul-Kwon handed him. It was a call that he received while he was watching the musical.

Its from a Tanya Manker.

Oh, she finally called.

Young-Joon called the number. After setting up a meeting, he spoke to the Life Creation Team.

We were supposed to hang out together, but Im afraid I wont be able to.

Do you have a meeting?

Yes. Go have fun. Thank you for working so hard on experiments and meetings. You should go tour New York and rest at the hotel until you fly back, Young-Joon said.

Then, Young-Joon said to the security team, Lets go.

As he was heading to the security car, Park Dong-Hyun stopped him.

Sir!

Yes?

Your card

Oh, my card. Haha, I thought you wanted to go to the meeting together.

Hehe Sorry.

Park Dong-Hyun scratched his head like he was a little embarrassed.

The best boss is the one who leaves his card. Ill be on my way now. Have good food and spend a lot of money.

Young-Joon gave him the company card and got in the car.

Make sure to keep the receipts.

Alright, take care!

* * *

Young-Joons car drove toward 12 E 49th Street. Fortunately, Tanyas company, Gro Intelligence, was located in New York City. It was a company that specialized in agricultural data analysis systems using artificial intelligence and big data. Gro Intelligence was the Wikipedia of agriculture; it had a deep analytic engine that analyzed climate, crop conditions, and crop types to predict the future.

We have a three thousand-dollar membership, and its recognized around the world as the best data available. Our customers are mainly investors in the agricultural business, multinational corporations, and governments, Tanya said.

I was interested in Gro Intelligence, so I looked into it, Young-Joon said.

Really? My company isnt very famous.

I saw your TED Talk..

I see. Is that why you did cultured meat?

I have thought about the food crisis before, but that talk kind of pushed me to do it. Plus, I found an appropriate technology while finding a cure for lung cancer.

I heard that news as well. Im not in the pharmaceutical industry, but it was impressive, Tanya Manker said.

Young-Joon grinned.

Then, should we talk business? Why did you want to see me?

Please use our companys system, Tanya said straightforwardly.

Gro Intelligences system?

Yes. The public is not yet aware of the food crisis. But its closer than we think. According to our prediction program, the food crisis will come in ten years. But we can stop it if we use the cultured meat technology well. Please tell that to people.

But they wont believe me.

But

Ms. Manker, you should be the one to say that.

Pardon?

You have emphasized the food crisis for a while now, and its time to step up again.

... But I dont have your fame and reputation, Doctor Ryu. Even if I speak, people will not pay attention.

They will this time. And please let me use that program. I can add my own variable data to the AI prediction program, right?

Yes, you can.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Then, please give me the license so I can use it for about ten days.

Afterwards, Young-Joon received the program from Tanya. He left Gro Intelligence after installing it on his laptop and registering as a user.

Mr. Ryu! Tanya, who followed him out, shouted.

Yes?

I am going to give another lecture emphasizing the food crisis and how the cultured meat technology can solve it.

Thank you.

But you said that they were going to believe me this time, right?

Yes.

Is Is that because cultured meat technology exists now? The lives of citizens from developed nations have been so plentiful that it was weird to talk about a food crisis, but now they will understand the logic because the change has already started?

Yes, that too, and Yes, that is why.

Young-Joon smiled and got in the K-Cops car. Tanya looked a little puzzled.

Thud

.

He closed the car door and closed his eyes.

Rosaline.

Yes.

I am going to hype up Gro Intelligence.

How?

I am going to feed Gro Intelligences AI with some important data as a variable, use that to track crops and make predictions with it like a fortune teller.

Important data?

Because I have you.

Young-Joon said.

Rosaline, activate Simulation Mode.