Around 2 billion people enjoy chocolate and coffee every single day. But growing enough of these crops uses a huge number of resources. For example, making just one cup of coffee takes about 140 litres of water. In West Africa, an estimated 70% of illegal deforestation is linked to cocoa farming. And with demand only expected to rise, the question is: what can we do to stop the environmental impact of these crops? In this episode of Balancing the Future, Micah and Chai talk to Dr. Steven Lang, Vice President of Science and Technology at California Cultured, a US startup that makes chocolate and coffee using bioreactors.  Steven explains that the team starts by taking a small sample from a plant. They then grow this sample in a bioreactor to create a plant cell culture. Because they have more control over the plant’s genetics, they can make it healthier or give it new traits. Right now, Steven’s team is working on cocoa that’s rich in flavanols, powerful compounds that act as antioxidants.  California Cultured has also developed a new plastic bioreactor that could bring costs down compared to the stainless-steel systems used for cultivated meat. Steven expects that by around 2028, their coffee and cocoa will cost roughly the same as conventional products. As with cultivated meat, though, these new products will need to win over consumers before they can really take off. To help with this, Steven’s team has worked with analytical chemists to fine-tune flavors, so they’re essentially interchangeable with traditional coffee and cocoa.  Steven was the first-ever guest on Balancing the Future. Back then, he worked in cultivated meat, which remains one of the most visible -- and most debated -- areas of lab-grown food. Today, he believes cultivated plants may have greater potential for faster progress and easier consumer acceptance, especially in areas where cultivated meat still faces big hurdles. LINKS: California Cultured Website Steven Lang on LinkedIn METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges.    We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs.    Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders, and communicators who are making a difference in their fields.     Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode.  ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy, and accuracy matter. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.