一探人類未來世界的10種食物(下)

ler Animals

5.更小的動物

My wife, when I was describing the items that would populate this list, exclaimed when I got to this one, "what, like rats?" Rats are indeed small animals and there are a lot of them (and people have been known to eat them in desperate situations). But no, we are not talking about rats in this case. Whether we are talking about placing a larger emphasis on animals that are not as problematic as cattle to raise as a food source. With this, there are a whole host of animals that can provide a dietary substitute for beef. Rabbits, squirrels, coon, goats, and the like are on the list. In fact, in many parts of the world, these animals are consumed on a regular basis. The benefit of such animals is that you can raise more of them, relative to cattle, for consumption. Or so say the experts. I haven't done the math, but a typical steer provides about 400 pounds of meat. This works out to about 1,600 servings (at 4 ounces per serving). Meanwhile, an average rabbit is about 5 pounds, and provides about half its weight in edible meat – so you would need about 160 rabbits for a comparable amount of meat.

我正在寫這一清單時，我的妻子大聲叫喊:"什麼？老鼠？"老鼠確實是小動物，並且其數量衆多（當我們處於絕境之時還不得不吃它）。但是，我們不是要在這個實例上探討老鼠。我們要討論的動物養起來沒有養牛那麼麻煩。以此理念爲基礎，兔子、松鼠、浣熊、山羊，諸如此類的動物都可以替代牛肉。實際上，世界上許多地方平時都會吃這些動物。這些動物的優點是，相比養牛，我們可以養更多此類動物作爲食物。有專家說，雖然沒有做過確切的計算，但是一頭牛大約可提供400磅肉，這些肉能做1600道菜（每道菜5盎司）。一隻兔子約爲5磅，它身上只有一半的肉可食用——因此，約160只兔子才能抵上一頭牛所供的肉量。

Nevertheless, smaller critters – even in the necessary greater numbers – are comparatively inexpensive, and generate less greenhouse gas effects. In short, raising a gaggle of rabbits is a lot more economical, practical, and environmentally sound than a herd of cows. And honestly, grilled rabbit tastes pretty good!

雖然如此，較小的家禽——即使需求量大——但是相對便宜，排放的二氧化碳更少。總之，餵養兔子比餵養牛更經濟、實際且環保。而且說實在的，烤兔肉真的是相當美味！

s

4.草

Well, maybe not weeds in the traditional sense. But some experts suggest the dietary benefits of a weed-like vegetation called purslane. This particular strain of vegetation is a nutritionist's dream! It's loaded with stuff like vitamin A , omega-3 and beta carotene. According to one source, the chewy peddles of this weed (it really is a weed – it has the affectionate nickname of pigweed) is more nutritious than vegetables like carrots and spinach. That alone makes it worth its while. Reportedly, it also tastes good.

專家說馬齒莧草類的植物（也許並不是傳統意義上的草）對我們的飲食有好處。這種品系的植物對於營養學家們來說如美夢一樣美好，因爲其含維生素A，奧米茄-3和β—胡蘿蔔素。據說這種兜售雜草（這是真正的雜草——它有一個暱稱叫藜）比胡蘿蔔和菠菜這些蔬菜更加有營養。據說，它還很美味。

Unfortunately, at present, farmers hate Purslane because it chokes off other crops that are more profitable. But the great thing about weeds: the darn things tend to grow everywhere. Purslane has adapted itself to grow in dry environments, as well as areas with plentiful water, making in a prime choice for a crop in arid climates. As the world moves to more hardy food substances (especially those that are hardy and nutritious), we can expect to see vegetation, such as purslane, on our dinner plates in greater quantities. Yum.

不幸的是，現在農民們很討厭馬齒莧，因爲它會扼殺其他利潤較高的農作物。但是雜草最厲害的就是可以隨處生長。乾燥缺水的環境，水源充沛的環境它們都能茁壯成長，乾旱的氣候是這種作物生長的第一選擇。世界慢慢的趨向於那些適應力強的植物。

tically Modified Food

3.轉基因食品

Genetic manipulation is seen as the way of the future. The technology in this regards in still in the infancy stage, but the promise of being able to manipulate current foods into hardier, tastier and more nutritious stock is a prime motivator in this area. Essentially, we are talking about making existing food better. This includes shortening the growing times of crops, making them more resistant to insects and other issues that plague crops, increasing yields, enabling crops to grow in areas not normally suitable to do so, and more.

轉基因食品被視爲未來的食物方向。轉基因技術仍在起步階段，但是這個領域的首要動力是通過操控現在的食物，使其更加的耐寒，美味和擁有更多的營養成分。本質上我們在探討將現有的食物變得更好。包括縮短作物的生長時間，對害蟲和其他禍害植物的生物有更強的抵抗力，增產和增加農作物的適應性。

In fact, researchers are even speculating on engineering foods to fight certain diseases, like cancer. imagine eating a piece of watermelon that has been genetically modified to provide a protein that allows someone with diabetes to forgo taking insulin. On a more immediate application, genetic manipulation will allow foods to taste even better, blend flavors, or even event totally new tastes to commonly known foods. We may be quite a ways from Star Trek-style food replicators, but the science of creating new food is right on our finger tips.

事實上，研究者甚至推測轉基因食物可用於治療某些疾病，如：癌症。想象一下吃一片轉基因西瓜提供蛋白質，糖尿病患者不再需要服用胰島素。還有一個更加有效的應用是，轉基因操作可以使食物更加美味，混合口味，甚至是與原來食物不一樣的新口味都將成爲可能。我們可能離《星際迷航》中的食物複製還遠一些，但是科學家創造新的食物確是唾手可得。

foods

2.納米食品

If you are smarter than me (and you probably are) then you more-than likely-understand the difference between nanofoods and the above-mentioned genetically modified food. Scientists swear that there is a distinct difference between the two. From what I can gather, nanofood is a somewhat less-ambitious scientific process. While genetically modified food involves altering the very genes of a food (changing the essence of item in question), nanofood technology restructures the molecular/atomic structure of foods using nanotechnology to produce nanoparticles.

如果你比我更聰明的話（你很可能是），那麼你就更能理解納米食品和上述轉基因食品的區別。科學家斷言兩者之間具有明顯區別。據我瞭解，納米食品並沒有轉基因食品前景好。轉基因食品涉及到改變食物的內在基因（改變了問題的本質），納米技術則利用納米技術生產出的納米顆粒重組食物的分子（或原子）結構。

A fine line for sure, but a difference nonetheless. These nanoparticles can alter a way that a food taste, what nutrients are produced, or extend the life of a particular food. Currently, this science is used in packaging, by extending shelf life (preservatives can be released into the food), improving product safety (by alerting consumers to spoiled food), and even repairing torn packaging through some sort of self-sealing process. One interesting development that is in the works by Kraft Foods is interactive products. Essentially, the company is attempting to use nanotechnology to cater a food's taste to individual consumers. Now that's getting food how you want it! Ultimately, what scientist hope to achieve is to be able to take this technology to the next level, and perform feats that are more in common with genetic modification – changing taste and providing increased nutritional benefits. Suffice to say, this stuff is definitely next-generation technology that approaches science fiction.

雖然有一定道理，但仍然存在分歧。這些納米粒子可以改變品嚐食物味道的方式，一些營養素生產的方式，或延長特定食品的保質期。目前，這門技術使用的包裝，通過延長保質期（防腐劑可放到食品裏），提高產品的安全性（提醒消費者變質的食品），甚至通過某些自動封口的方式修復撕裂的包裝。卡夫卡食品公司生產出一種有趣的互動產品。實質上，該公司正在嘗試用納米技術，讓食物的味道滿足每個消費者。現在所得到的食物都是你想要的！最終，科學家希望此技術能達到一個新的水平，並在更廣泛的基因改良、改變味道和增加營養價值的基礎上使用這個技術。我只想說，這個技術絕對是科幻小說式的科學技術。

thing We Haven't Thought Of Yet

1.一些我們還沒想到的食物

If you would have told folks 100 years ago, that we would have genetically altered seeds that would double the yield of crops, they probably would have thought you were reading too many science fiction novels. Yet fiction, as crazy as it may sound, is the harbinger of things to come. We were dreaming of reaching the moon long before we actually did it. In this same fashion, the unimaginable in regards to food will probably be tomorrow's reality. I mentioned earlier the food replicators on Star Trek. Well, do you also remember those handheld flip communicators they used? Take a look at the cell phones (older models now) that performed the same function. As such, it's not hard to imagine a machine that could actually produce any kind of food you desire right out of the molecules that are floating around in the air. Or maybe the nutrient-enhanced slime that the folks ate in The Matrix?

如果你告訴100年前人們，我們改變種子的遺傳基因會讓作物增加一倍的產量，他們可能會覺得你讀了太多的科幻小說。然而，儘管科幻小說聽起來瘋狂，成爲現實也不是沒有可能。在我們實現登月之前，登月是我們長期以來的夢想。依照這個方式，很難想象對食物的預言可能在明天變成現實。我之前提到在《星際迷航》裏的食品複製，你還記得他們所用的手提式反翻轉工具嗎？看看我們的手機（現在都是老款了）已有了相同的功能。因此，不難想象，在未來，只要是你想吃的食物，加工機器都能從空氣中獲取必要的分子，從而加工出來。只要你想，《黑客帝國》中人們所吃的營養強化泥也並不遙遠。

Farfetched? Maybe, but our imaginations will be the breeding grounds for the next evolution in food. As our food supplies continue to shrink, we will be forced to find ever new ways to feed our growing population. Perhaps the answer lies in space – new foods that can only be grown in the vacuum or on a space station. Or maybe we can find a way to make dirt tasty and nutritious. For certain, I've seen people make a delicacy out of lawn grass! Whatever the case, you can bet that our great grandchildren will find it hard to believe that we were actually eating meat from animals and vegetables that were grown in real soil. Just wait and watch!

也許有點牽強，但我們的想象力將會是下一個食物發展的溫牀。由於我們的糧食供應在不斷減少，我們不得不尋找新方法爲我們不斷增長的人口提供食物。也許答案就在太空中，新型食物只能在真空或空間站上生長。或許我們能找到一種方法，使灰塵變得可口美味並且營養豐富。我確信已經見到人們做出精緻美味的草坪！無論是哪種情況，我敢打賭我們的孫輩會覺得很難相信我們竟然會吃動物肉，種蔬菜果腹。那麼，讓我們拭目以待吧！

審校：由敬雯 來源：前十網