Doesn’t Make Sense

By Dennis Sun

Every so often someone is out there pointing their finger at cattle to claim they are one of the reasons for human-caused climate change. Of course, we know and science proves, cattle and their belching are only responsible for around two percent of the world’s methane emissions.

            Bill Gates is the latest person to throw the methane garbage out in a book he wrote and recently released. He comes down hard on raising cattle, especially in rich countries.

            We appreciate Bill Gates for what he has done as Microsoft Corporation co-founder and for his donations to many causes. He is honest in realizing he is a contributor to climate change with his jet airplanes, huge houses and other toys. 

But, he has a “zillion dollars” and hopes to wreak havoc on the cattle business in America and other rich countries to substitute beef with 100 percent fake meat products.

            In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Gates spoke on his new book and emphasized the benefits rich nations could produce by moving to 100 percent synthetic beef. Right off, he has his facts wrong. 

There is nothing beef about this synthetic product as it is a 100 percent plant-based product, and some say it would be a poor excuse for even dog food. 

             “One can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time,” Gates said. 

I guess he means, if one is rich, it doesn’t taste so bad if it is washed down with a $100 bottle of wine. But, for individuals in the middle class or poor countries, it’s OK to eat beef.

            He did admit getting rid of cows is viewed as an unpopular approach, but he said the benefits of plant proteins are worth the shift for some countries.

            Gates said, “Eventually, the green premium is modest enough one can sort of change the behavior of people or use regulation to totally shift the demand. For meat in the middle income and above countries, I do think it is possible.” 

Whoa there Mr. Gates. I don’t think changing the behavior of people and using regulation is how Microsoft was developed or how those computers were so profitable.

             “For Africa and other poor countries, we’ll have to use animal genetics to dramatically raise the amount of beef per emissions for them,” Gates told the MIT Technology Review. “Weirdly, because livestock in the U.S. is so productive, the emissions per pound of beef are dramatically less than emissions per pound in Africa.”

“As part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s work, we’re taking the benefit of African livestock, which means they can survive in heat and crossing in the monstrous productivity both on the meat side and the milk side of the elite U.S beef lines,” he continued.

            This all shows if one has a zillion dollars, they can afford to write a book promoting a product produced by companies they have invested in.