In a groundbreaking development, South Korean researchers have successfully created a new protein-rich food that could potentially replace traditional meat production. Dubbed “beef rice,” this innovative product imitates the taste of meat and has a pink color. To make beef rice, researchers grew real beef cells inside of a grain of rice. This marks the first time that animal cells have been successfully cultured inside a grain of rice, according to Professor Jinkee Hong of Yonsei University in Seoul.
This new development is part of a growing trend towards lab-grown meat alternatives. Hong’s team believes that rice production leaves a smaller carbon footprint than traditional beef production, making beef rice a potentially more environmentally friendly option. They hope that beef rice could become a competitive product in the meat market.
Beef rice stands out from other lab-grown meat alternatives due to its unique combination of real beef cells and rice as a culture medium. Researchers are optimistic about the potential of beef rice to provide a sustainable and ethically sourced meat alternative for consumers. As such, they are working on improving the taste and texture of beef rice to make it more appealing to consumers.
