Synthetic Foods Moooove into the supply chain
A recent scientific development has now shown it is possible to create biologically identical, artificial beef in a laboratory. While this sounds like something out of a sci-fi flick, this futuristic approach to food manufacturing could soon make its way into the supply chain.
The first ever in-vitro burger was created by Dr. Mark Post and his team at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. It was cooked and then served to two volunteers in front of a live audience at an event in London. One volunteer remarked that it tasted “close to meat.”
The €250,000 project to produce the burger was funded by none other than Google Co-founder, Sergey Brin. While Dr. Post admits that it will likely be another ten to twenty years before we see the in-vitro burger stocked on supermarket shelves, he appears confident that it will be accepted as a viable alternative to traditionally reared live-stock. The environmental implications of such developments are astounding. If hypothetically, all meat was lab-grown, the associated green-house gas emissions could be reduced by up to 80 percent.
By 2060, the meat market is predicted to double as the human population increases to 9.5 billion. As a result, it will be interesting to see how artificially manufactured food products support future supply chains.
To read more, click here.
“A merry-go-round of metal”
The global investment bank, Goldman Sachs, has hit the headlines this week following allegations of practicing “anti-competitive and monopolistic behavior in the warehousing market in connection with aluminum prices.” The Guardian suggests that both Goldman Sachs and the London Metal Exchange could face legal action in the US.
According to reports, Goldman Sachs deliberately created bottle necks in the supply of aluminum in order to inflate prices. The accusations of insider trading emerged after an increasing number of buyers began to complain about rising metal prices as a result of excessive waiting times. Since buying Metro International Trade Services, one of America’s largest metal warehouse operators, the average waiting time for an order has increased from six weeks to sixteen months.
Goldman Sachs has denied the allegations, adding that they comply with all Industry standards as set by the London Metal Exchange. Interviews with former employees would however appear to contradict this claim.
To read more about how Goldman Sachs tried to beat the legal loop holes with its “merry-go-round of metal”, click here.
UK Manufacturing Industry Surging Ahead
Following a £1 billion investment, it would appear that efforts to drive growth across the flailing British manufacturing sector are already beginning to bear fruit. According to the Office for National Statistics, Britain’s manufacturers expanded their output by 1.9 per cent in June 2013.
A further indication of economic recovery, as highlighted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT), is that for the 17th consecutive month, automotive sales have increased. In July alone, demand jumped by 12.7 per cent to 162,228 units. Despite initial optimism though, maintaining such growth in the coming months could prove challenging for manufacturers.
For the full scoop, click here.
Have a great weekend!