Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Chilean plant-based food company NotCo has recreated the famous dish of turtle soup using artificial intelligence, aiming to raise awareness about endangered species.

In their lab in Santiago, Culinary Sciences Chief Bernardo Moltedo peruses the shelves that house a variety of plant-derived ingredients. They use their AI platform Giuseppe to analyze the molecular structure of animal-based foods and replicate them using only plant-based ingredients. This effort is part of their larger goal to provide AI-enhanced meat alternatives and address environmental issues.

Moltedo explains that they wanted to make an impact through artificial intelligence, recognizing its controversial nature but seeing it as a capable tool for transmitting their message quickly and solving industry and environmental issues. The company creates foods such as hamburgers, milk, mayonnaise, or ice cream that simulate the taste and texture of traditional animal-based ingredients. Their aim is not only to deal with all endangered species but also to generate a cultural and environmental impact.

Although the AI-made turtle soup is not currently available for sale, NotCo plans to offer virtual classes to teach people how to prepare it, promoting a plant-based approach to food consumption and sustainability. The exploitation of sea turtles is prohibited in most countries, and they are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species. Through their innovative approach, NotCo seeks to provide alternatives that contribute to conservation efforts and encourage responsible food choices.