The Microsoft founder’s book, ‘How to Avoid a Climate Disaster’, includes a series of recommendations on how to tackle climate change. Mr Gates, who has invested in multiple “synthetic meat” companies, insisted Government’s should bring in policies limiting carbon emissions.
In an interview with the MIT Technology Review magazine, Mr Gates detailed his proposal on synthetic meat replacing livestock.
He said: “I do think all rich countries should move to 100 percent synthetic beef.
“You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time.
“Eventually, that green premium is modest enough that you can sort of change the [behaviour of] people or use regulation to totally shift the demand.”
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Mr Gates continued to say this would not apply to the poorest countries, saying they will “have to use animal genetics to dramatically raise the amount of beef per emissions for them”.
He added he does think it is possible for “middle-income-and-above countries” to make the switch to fake meats, but said: “It’s one of those ones where, wow, you have to track it every year and see, and the politics [are challenging].
“There are all these bills that say it’s got to be called, basically, lab garbage to be sold.
“They don’t want us to use the beef label.”
After the interview was published, Mr Gates’ saw backlash for his recommendation of synthetic meats.
John Cornyn, Texas Republican Senator, posted on Twitter to “count me out”.
Thomas Massi, Kentucky Republican Representative, also rubbished Mr Gate’s backing of synthetic meat.
He said on Twitter: “I’m thinking Americans will be eating real beef for a while since we’re $27.9 trillion in debt.”
Mr Gates also said in his book solving the issue of climate change would be the “most amazing thing humanity has ever done”, comparing it to the coronavirus pandemic.
In an excerpt posted by The Guardian, he also defended himself from being “a rich guy with an opinion”.
After calling himself an “imperfect messenger on climate change”, he said: “I do believe, though, that it is an informed opinion, and I am always trying to learn more.”
Mr Gates also has previously said he is not a vegetarian, and his favourite foods include cheeseburgers.