'The Future Is Meatless,' Tyson CEO Says

As global warming threats loom, and as plant-based proteins — including some that look and taste suspiciously like real meat — become more and more popular, some scientists and dieticians have openly wondered whether humans will continue eating meat in the decades to come. Surprisingly, the question has recently been answered by Tom Hayes, CEO of Tyson Foods Inc. — the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork — who believes the future is meatless.

"If you take a look at the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) stats, protein consumption is growing around the world — and it continues to grow," Hayes told FOX Business. "It's not just hot in the U.S.; it's hot everywhere — people want protein, so whether it's animal-based protein or plant-based protein, they have an appetite for it. Plant-based protein is growing almost, at this point, a little faster than animal-based, so I think the migration may continue in that direction."

Should Tyson plan for a future in meatless protein production? Perhaps — especially when some of its poultry farms are being quarantined for bird flu.