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Comment by libertine | Hacker News Reader

> I could buy a free range, organic and grass fed beef burger for the price of their ultra processed burger.

In many countries, it's a heavily subsidized industry. Even if you have VC funds, it's not the same as being backed by country subsidies.

To be clear, I'm not making a judgment, just saying that meat would probably be a lot more expensive.

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I think that for this exact reason Beyond Meat (or other alternatives) need a similar boost, in order to be financially competitive as well.

It’d probably be a better idea to stop the agriculture subsidies and let everyone compete and innovate on a level playing field.

Agriculture is very risky, and needs large investments, and has low margins, so it's a good candidate for subsidies and other such government measures, like insurance. And the people need to eat, so it's essential as well.

Leveling is much needed, I agree on that. But in case of agriculture, we can only get there by adjusting the field on a government level, in the shape of the support the industry receives.

Aren't they massively subsidized already? It's soybeans, after all.

Most soybeans are fed to animals and only a tiny amount of soybean calories are converted into meat. So a soybean subsidy scales better in the meat industry and makes their product disproportionally cheaper.

and unfortunatly cows raised on soybeans yields trash quality meat with high amounts of omega 6 vs 3.

I checked out one resource, and they say that there it's "pea protein isolate" mostly.

Whatever the case (I'm sure there are soy patties as well), I think as long as they are not pricing it cheaper than beef, it won't gain widespread adoption. Animals are cute and all but people need an incentive that they can directly feel.

That's a political decision that needs to be applied to the alternative protein industry. However, given the current political climate and the acceptance of disinformation, that's going to be challenging.

Indeed, and indeed.

I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted. It’s a good national policy.

Keeping groceries cheap is politically important. It's the bread in bread and circus.

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