Impossible Foods was founded in 2011 and has grown into one of the world's leading alternative protein companies. Impossible is on a mission to, in their own words, "...positively impact people and the planet by making delicious, nutritious meat from plants with a fraction of the environmental footprint of meat from animals." Peter McGuinness joined Impossible as President & CEO in 2022 to lead the company’s next phase of growth and innovation to help shape the food habits of people around the world. Prior to Impossible Foods, he served as Chobani’s President & COO, leading growth and expansion, while overseeing supply chain, manufacturing, sustainability, demand and innovation functions.
Here is Impossible's Mission Statement:
"Our mission is to restore biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change by transforming the global food system. To do this, we’re making delicious, nutritious, affordable and sustainable meat, fish and dairy from plants." They explain why switching to a more plant-based food system will radically reduce greenhouse gases. "Animal meat production uses nearly half of the world’s land... and consumes 25% of the world’s freshwater. We make meat from plants using a small fraction of the land, water and energy — so people can keep eating the foods they love, without harming the planet they love."
Here is Impossible Foods Founding Story in the company's own words.
"During a sabbatical in 2009, Stanford University Professor Dr. Patrick O. Brown decided to switch the course of his career to address the urgent problem of climate change. In particular, he wanted to make the global food system sustainable by recreating meat, fish and dairy foods, from plants, with a much lower carbon footprint than their animal counterparts. Pat brought together a team of top scientists to analyze meat at the molecular level and determine precisely why meat looks, cooks and tastes the way it does. Together, Impossible Foods’ scientists developed a world-class archive of proprietary research and technology to recreate the entire sensory experience of meat, dairy and fish using plants."
Perhaps the most important aspect of the business is the use of Heme, which gives meat its meaty taste but can be made from plant.
WHAT IS HEME
"Heme is an iron-containing molecule found in every living organism — both plants and animals. Impossible Foods’ scientists discovered early in their research that heme is what makes meat taste like meat. Impossible™ products get their heme from the protein soy leghemoglobin, which can be naturally found in soy roots. Impossible Foods produces soy leghemoglobin through genetic engineering and fermentation. Thanks to heme, Impossible products have a rich, meaty flavor that satisfies even the most discerning meat-eaters — but it contains no animal products whatsoever."
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