The USDA’s data seem to paint a pretty clear picture: per capita meat consumption in the US is steadily rising. While plant-based meat has exploded onto mainstream menus and meat aisles in the past several years, if you take these data at face value, it seems like Americans are eating…

“Why have you failed?” That’s the poignant yet sobering response Peter Singer offers in a recent interview when asked what he thinks animals would ask him if they could communicate with him. …

I was thinking about my lunch today: I used a tortilla that came in a plastic bag, on which I spread hummus from a plastic tub, followed by a bed of spinach that came in a plastic bag, topped with a layer of tofu that came in a plastic tub…

As someone who’s jokingly referred to myself as a Hummus sapiens due to my daily hummus habit, it was a lot of fun to talk with the Hummus King himself, the CEO of the biggest hummus company on the planet. While hummus certainly makes my life better, I’ve long been…

Some species of bamboo, the fastest-growing terrestrial plant, grow at about 35 inches a day. Duckweed, a tiny, humble aquatic plant of the genus Wolffia, can double its size in two hours. Similarly, kelp can grow by an impressive 18 inches to 2 feet per day. That puts the growth…

There are many startups, including one that I cofounded, working to scale mycelium fermentation to a point where it can start making a dent in demand for animal meat. One company, though, has been doing this successfully for decades: Quorn Foods. While most animal-free meat is made from soy, pea…

I’ve often told the story about the switch from whale oil to kerosene, including one time even using an actual harpoon in a TEDx talk about the cultivated meat movement. (Recommendation: Don’t try to bring a harpoon on a plane.) …

I like every episode of Business for Good that airs, but sometimes there’s an episode that I think is particularly meaningful, interesting, or worthwhile. In the case of our latest episode, it fits all three. I’ve known Jason Matheny for more than 20 years, and even profiled him in my…

In December 2022, President Biden signed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, as approved by the House, and passed unanimously in the Senate. That’s a big deal, because among the landmark legislation’s provisions is one eliminating the requirement for testing on animals for drug safety. …