Biotechnology is providing us with a ray of hope when it comes to the global food crisis. In fact, it can help to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8%, and even provide us with plant-based proteins as an alternative to animal-based ones. This is great news for our planet, as the US and Singapore have already approved the use of cultivated meat from chickens’ living cells for human consumption. To make the most of biotechnology’s potential, we need to increase private and public investments in research and innovation, reduce the market approval process for new biological solutions, and incentivise the application of sustainable solutions across the food value chain. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
