A recipe for the future of food?

Published 02/05/2012

Tasting the future

In late 2011, Michelin-starred chefs Paul Merrett and Anton Manganaro collaborated with Compassion in World Farming to cook for a group of leading environmentalists. The aim? To show that we can all eat great-tasting food produced in ways that are safe, fair and green. The result was a mouth-watering mash-up of more traditional ingredients with cutting-edge tastes and cooking styles.

I don't claim to have all the answers but hope that my work can help start a conversation – it is time to think differently.

No easy task

Some tough questions needed answering: in a world with a far greater population, how might our food choices differ from a typical western meal today? And would the answer prove enjoyable to eat? Paul and Anton recognised that feeding our world will mean ending factory farming, and that those of us living in wealthier countries (where meat consumption is generally higher) will need to enjoy smaller amounts of high-quality meat. For those who choose to eat it, meat will become a treat to be savoured and appreciated.

The chefs' meal reflected these thoughts; animal products were kept to small portions and, naturally, were of the highest welfare. The meal also drew on the best of seasonal local produce and harvested nature's diverse bounty, such as wild mushrooms and cobnuts.

Download their menu for a closer look at Paul and Anton's interpretation of a future without factory farming.

It's not just cooking that excites Michelin-starred chef Paul Merrett – it's what the food represents. As owner of The Victoria, a highly regarded London restaurant, he has ensured that its menu reflects the importance of local, seasonal, higher-welfare produce.
Find out more about Paul and his food.

To those who choose to eat it, meat will become a treat to be savoured and appreciated.

What's your recipe for the future?

We may not all be Michelin-starred chefs, but we should all have a say in the food we eat. As Paul says: "I don't claim to have all the answers but hope that my work can help start a conversation – it is time to think differently." Paul and Compassion would love to hear your thoughts about food in a world without factory farming. There are no set rules – you might want to include some meat, or perhaps you would prefer a vegetarian or vegan meal. Let us know in the discussion area below.

Huge thanks to Bernard Zieja for the photos