Organic synthesis Photo:A Tokyo-based sewer company in Japan's capital has asked scientists to come up with useful uses for the vast masses of sewage that has accumulated in the city's interior. The most original idea was the one suggested by Dr. Mitsuyuki Ikeda, a laboratory worker in Okayama Prefecture on Honshu Island, who analyzed the sludge accumulating in the sewer and found a large number of bacteria in it that convert human waste into proteins. He isolated these proteins, matched them with a catalyst and made artificial meat. The shitburger contains 63% protein, 25% carbohydrates, negligible amounts of fats and minerals. A colorant and flavor enhancer have been added to meat from sewers to enhance the product's appeal. The idea of converting human waste into food is not new. Mankind has learned to obtain drinking water from urine for a long time. For example, such installations are quite successfully serving astronauts on the ISS. It is noteworthy that the use of human waste found by the Japanese solves not only the problem of sewage, but can also become a way to solve the food problem and even the problem of the greenhouse effect. The meat industry now accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, cattle breeding consumes too many valuable resources, but the invention also has one significant drawback: it is not known how many volunteers will be found who would agree to consume meat synthesized from excrement. In addition, in terms of production costs, freeze-dried meat from waste is not inferior to natural meat. This gives hope that we will not soon find a replacement for the usual cutlets with a Japanese invention. On the other hand, perhaps this will become a reason for many to give up meat altogether and become a vegetarian.
