It’s food, Jim, but not as we know it.

In the absence of Star Trek’s food replicator, sustainably feeding the planet’s burgeoning population is a concern. Leaving aside any ethical considerations, accessing protein using livestock production is an inefficient process as well as a significant generator of methane. The increased use and farming of insects is being promoted as one route forward. Meanwhile scientists at Maastricht University have produced and eaten the first synthetic meat burger made from muscle stem cells. This cultured, in vitro meat, could be the beginnings of a new meat production technique thus keeping the many carnivores amongst us happy.

However at a cost of over £200,000 for this burger the 69 million people who daily visit a well known fast food outlet might be in for a shock.