{"id":397935,"date":"2025-08-26T18:21:46","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T17:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=397935"},"modified":"2026-01-02T03:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T02:06:32","slug":"it-turns-out-people-didnt-want-to-spend-twice-as-much-on-fake-meat-to-fix-the-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=397935","title":{"rendered":"It turns out people didn\u2019t want to spend twice as much on fake meat to fix the weather"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From JoNova<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jo Nova<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Beyond Meat may be beyond saving \u2014 it turned $4b into \u201ca dumpster fire\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like a microcosm of the climate change debate, a group of investors thought they could make a profit while also saving animals, making people healthier, and changing the global climate all at the same time in a nifty 4 for 1.  The UN recognised it as a Champion of the Earth for \u201cscience and innovation\u201d. Bill Gates tossed money at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it turns out it was hard to recreate a steak without having a cow or 100 million years to evolve something competitive, economical and tasty. Cows are very efficient factories, in that they come with their own chemical plants, filters, thermostats, and barriers to stop infection, they can transport themselves and they make more cows too. So, the factory imitation was never going to be cheaper, at least not for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like everything in the climate debate \u2014 everyone says they believe, but no one believes enough to spend $19.95 on fake burger meat. So, it was a wildly ambitious product, not-yet-invented, not-safety-tested, and without much appeal to 99% of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial teardown: How Beyond Meat burned $4 billion (and its reputation)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By Jason Andrew, SmartCompany<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What started as Silicon Valley\u2019s next big thing is now an absolute dumpster fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After raising money from Bill Gates, going public for >$4 billion, and even partnering with Kim Kardashian, Beyond Meat is now the laughing stock of the NASDAQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The business has lost 96% of its equity value since IPO, is burning ~$20-$30 million in cash every quarter, and has over $1 billion in debt due in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Jason Andrew points out it was doomed from the start. Since 2009 it has never had a single year in profit, and in 2019 at the peak, it was IPO\u2019d at a glorious 40X revenue multiple, eclipsing even Facebook which launched at 28 X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These ratios might have worked for a silicon chip company or a tech giant but was \u201cridiculous\u201d for a food company competing on high costs and thin margins.\u00a0As it happens, not only were customers not impressed with the climate control feature on the burgers, but they weren\u2019t too sure it was really healthier than meat. These are ultraprocessed foods, may contain seed oils, or who knows what additives? So even the super health-conscious vegan climate activist might have had a dilemma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just another reminder of how a fantasy fashion swept the modern distracted world off its feet and burned up another $4 billion dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was all too easy when people could borrow up big on near 0% interest. It\u2019s another bubble fed with a fiat currency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are very strong rumours Beyond Meat will have to file for bankruptcy, given that it has a billion dollars in debt. But the company seems to be trying to transition into a high protein health niche.<\/a> They are even dropping the word \u201cmeat\u201d. Perhaps it\u2019s not a word that appeals to the core market of vegan eco-worriers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\/t ClimateDepot<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pascal Shirley | <\/a>Beyond Meat burger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like a microcosm of the climate change debate, a group of investors thought they could make a profit while also saving animals, making people healthier, and changing the global climate all at the same time in a nifty 4 for 1.\u00a0 The UN recognised it as a Champion of the Earth for \u201cscience and innovation\u201d. Bill Gates tossed money at it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":397940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691837527,691820228,691818113,691818056,691820072,691819523],"class_list":["post-397935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-beyond-meat","tag-bill-gates","tag-climate-activist","tag-climate-change","tag-cows","tag-fake-meat","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQNTnxP-uTp2HM2SJUfh8Y-4fnO6HGJD9lNwbxeuBE5ed7asHXLRmIXmGDebGpxIUvgT6sjSE_3p13mBUUQZnwiyqxfhNKlP68F6SB9yV2f5nJdvxVjJZVUpuDdZoLKec2_BKAw57EkrO7gaXU_j7msbnNJsTw-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1Fwj","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":239568,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=239568","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":0},"title":"Bill Gates: Nuclear Power and Fake Meat can Save Us from Climate Change","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/14\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bill Gates: We will overshoot 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming, nuclear can be \u2018super safe\u2019 and fake meat will eventually be \u2018very good\u2019","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-614.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-614.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-614.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-614.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-614.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":257211,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=257211","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":1},"title":"Bill Gates funded Lab-grown meat \u2018could be 25 times worse for the climate than beef\u2019 \u2013 \u2018Highly energy intensive\u2019 \u2013 \u2018Meat\u2019 grown in steel vats from stem cells from animal","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/13\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Cultivated meat is made by growing muscle tissue from stem cells. Meat produced from cultured cells could be 25 times worse for the climate than regular beef unless scientists find ways to overhaul energy-intensive steps in its production.","rel":"","context":"In \"3D Printed Steak\"","block_context":{"text":"3D Printed Steak","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=3d-printed-steak"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00screen_shot_2021-10-20_at_2.59.17_pm.webp?fit=1200%2C696&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00screen_shot_2021-10-20_at_2.59.17_pm.webp?fit=1200%2C696&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00screen_shot_2021-10-20_at_2.59.17_pm.webp?fit=1200%2C696&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00screen_shot_2021-10-20_at_2.59.17_pm.webp?fit=1200%2C696&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00screen_shot_2021-10-20_at_2.59.17_pm.webp?fit=1200%2C696&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":409446,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=409446","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":2},"title":"Green Flagship \u201cBeyond Meat\u201d Shares Plunge After Debt Restructure","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/21\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Bill Gates\u2019 Beyond meat, promoted as a climate friendly alternative to real meat, is struggling with consumer backlash against processed foods.","rel":"","context":"In \"Beyond Meat\"","block_context":{"text":"Beyond Meat","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=beyond-meat"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0Screenshot-2025-10-21-184357.png?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0Screenshot-2025-10-21-184357.png?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0Screenshot-2025-10-21-184357.png?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0Screenshot-2025-10-21-184357.png?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0Screenshot-2025-10-21-184357.png?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":246943,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=246943","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":3},"title":"Bill Gates\u2019 climate change deceptions are taking us for a billion-dollar ride","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bill Gates donates hundreds of millions of dollars to social, health, environmental and corporate media causes. He\u2019s not used to being asked tough questions.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-206.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-206.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-206.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-206.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-206.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":440634,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=440634","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":4},"title":"New Food Pyramid: Another Blow to Climate Activism","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/20\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Once again, the self-interest of consumers in a free economy is at odds with the agenda of the Climate Industrial Complex. And with the decline in interest and sales of fake meat (Beyond Meat is a penny stock, down 99 percent) the political problem of the eco-busybodies is profound.","rel":"","context":"In \"Beyond Meat stock ($BYND)\"","block_context":{"text":"Beyond Meat stock ($BYND)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=beyond-meat-stock-bynd"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Eat-Real-Food-pyramid.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Eat-Real-Food-pyramid.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Eat-Real-Food-pyramid.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Eat-Real-Food-pyramid.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":242454,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=242454","url_meta":{"origin":397935,"position":5},"title":"The Great Food Reset: \u2018Lab-grown meat\u2019 harvested in \u2018massive steel vats\u2019 edges closer to fed approval & U.S. dinner plates \u2013 As EU approves human consumption of worms & crickets","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/31\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\"You Will Eat lab-grown 'meat' and bugs -- and Be Happy. Or so the forces of the Great Food Reset believe.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1347.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1347.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1347.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1347.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1347.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=397935"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":397942,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397935\/revisions\/397942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/397940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=397935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=397935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=397935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}