An interactive introduction to the future of artificially grown meat

Next Nature Networkand Submarine Channel present Bistro In Vitro, a virtual restaurant and interactive documentary directed by Dutch artist Koert Mensvoort. Bistro In Vitro aims to introduce the possibilities that lab grown meat may offer in the future.

On the virtual restaurant website you will find photos, texts and videos of future culinary creations along with video interviews with visionary scientists, experts, renowned chefs and critics. Users can navigate an interactive online documentary creating their own three course meal by choosing from the conceptual meat dishes on offer, including ‘meat fruit’, ‘knitted mince’ and ‘meat oysters’. As users interact with the site, their choices, feedback and comments will be added to a collaborative documentary about artificial meat and its potential future.

Bistro In Vitro aims to spark debate on the issue of sustainable meat production, and how In Vitro meat may be a possible solution to the economic and environmental issues facing the meat industry. “With the world’s population expected to reach nine billion people by 2050, it’s becoming impossible to produce and to consume the same quantities of meat like we do today,” says Mensvoort. “Climate change, energy use, animal diseases and global food shortages are just some of the problems facing mankind, not to mention the issue of animal welfare on factory farms.” Bistro In Vitro’s novel take on the subject of artificially grown meat is challenging existing preconceptions surrounding lab-grown produce, creating debate and intrigue via digitally driven experience.

Our eating habits are set to change and designers aren't afraid to combine technology with food to keep things interesting. Project Nourished aims to reconstruct and mimic calorie-rich foods, again using artificial substitutes, whilst creating a virtual reality in which the original food can be seen.