Revolutionizing the Burger

Revolutionizing the Burger

Dr Abe V Rotor

Rice burger with patty filler and a peel of lettuce  

Lavish triple serving of different makes and side dishes 

                         

Traditional burgers from single- to triple-decker, extravagantly stuffed 

Big bite - but how? Obese-setting serving, likewise an oversize mug. 

Hybrid breakfast or big snack. Perhaps brunch (breakfast-lunch)

NOTE: Today, burger meat can be grown in the laboratory from stem cells, on the principle of cell differentiation and growth. Stem cells are produced by living things.  They come from various sources in the body such as embryonic cells (fertilized egg), stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissues. In plants, meristems (apical, lateral and intercallary) are the equivalence of stem cells in humans and animals. 

The author believes that Stem Cell Farming (SCF) will be the next Agricultural Revolution, anent Genetic Engineering that produced GMOs (genetically modified organisms such as Bt Corn, Golden Rice, and other transgenic organisms)  Bt is the initial of Bacillus thuringensis, a soil bacterium, whose gene for caterpillar-resistance has been spliced into the genes of the corn. 

The author also believes that Stem Cell Farming will set a new frontier of production from land-based agriculture, and aquaculture, which have already reached their limits. Single-Cell Protein (SCP) Farming, such as Spirulina and Chlorella culture, will continue independently but will form a triumvirate with GMO Farming, and Stem Cell Farming, in Postmodern Green Revolution. This consortium deviates from conventional farming which, in the last three decades, evolved into Modern Agriculture, the Green Revolution of the industrial age. Because of its heavy dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, hybrids, mechanization, intensive and diversified systems, people realized the harmful effects to health and environmental.  This is the main reason people are attracted to Natural Farming, that is, the production of food virtually the return to traditional farming, the age-old farming system prior to the modern era.  

Scenarios on Current Trends in Agriculture: 

1. Stem cell farming will ignite rage and ethico-moral controversy. What with the wild thought of human stem cell hamburger! 

2. GMO farming has stirred worldwide controversy since its early stage. Worldwide, countries and organizations are calling for its restriction, if not total ban. 

3. Genetic engineering has given rise to a new and most destructive form of pollution to the living world - Genetic Pollution, which is destroying the integrity of natural gene pools of plants, animals, and microorganisms. 

4. Genetic pollution spreads through pollination in plants and mating in animals, albeit induced mutation. GM plants can pollute whole fields. The mechanism is true to animals, consequently populations. There is no way of stop genetic pollution once it has set in, unlike conventional pollution. 

5. Farming the sea will continue with harmful ecological consequences. Like deforestation on land, marine vegetation, from mangrove to seaweeds and sea grasses will greatly suffer, even as the cultivation of seaweeds like Eucheuma and Calerpa, is now a lucrative industry. 

6. Fish farming of marine and freshwater species has expanded into off shore floating cages and plantation-size fish pens. Wild species in captivity proved to be successful in groupers, mullets, and lately, the salmon which has virtually lost its homing instinct through genetic manipulation.  

7. Hydroponics (soiless farming) and aeroponics (farming on multi-storey buildings) continue to "bring agriculture into the city," as more and more people move into urban centers. 

8. Home gardening and backyard orchards are back with the objectives of recycling, self-sufficiency and sanitation, not to mention aesthetic beauty. This trend goes hand in hand with the revival of traditional societies, as people are tired living in the city.   

9. People are becoming conscious of their health by avoiding chemically grown plants and animals, aware of the harmful effects of chemical residues, "Frankenfood"  (GMOs), toxic metals and antibiotic residues, among others.    

10. Wild food plants like Amaranthus, Portulaca, Corchorus and Mollogo have found their way to the dining table and market.  So with many native varieties of fruits and vegetables on one hand, and native breeds of animals and poultry, on the other. ~