The Octopus Phenomenon
Presented by Society Insurance
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By Abby Roemer
The documentary My Octopus Teacher depicts the director’s intimate observation of the daily life of a single octopus off the coast of South Africa. As a food server for many years—and a mostly vegan one at that—it surprised me when following the documentary’s 2020 release I noticed a paradigm shift among my guests: Many were not eating octopus anymore.
“Have you seen My Octopus Teacher?” they’d ask, crediting it for their new identity as non-octopus-eaters before proceeding to order the pork meatballs. “Ya know, this really shouldn’t be on your menu,” they would say, assuming I, their server, had some authority over the matter. I’ve even heard gasps as their companions dared to order the beloved eight-limbed cephalopod for themselves.
This phenomenon has led me to wonder if My Octopus Teacher holds the key for prompting behavior change on a much larger scale, especially as it relates to switching to a more humane and sustainable food system.
The sourcing of meat contributes to ills ranging from the destruction of our planet to the worsening of human health. On a recent episode of the Rich Roll podcast titled “Bruce Friedrich On The Meatless Meat Moonshot,” Friedrich, co-founder of The Good Food Institute (GFI), put it this way, “[fr]om a sort-of global social-justice perspective, the planet is on fire in multiple different ways, not just climate change, also pandemic risk, also the end of modern medicine through antibiotic resistance, and it is an absolute moral imperative that we move in this direction as quickly as possible.” The direction he’s referring to is a switch almost entirely to cultivated meat and plant-based meat production.
According to GFI, “Cultivated meat, also known as cultured meat, is genuine animal meat (including seafood and organ meats) that is produced by cultivating animal cells directly. Cultivated meat is made of the same cell types arranged in the same or similar structure as animal tissues, thus replicating the sensory and nutritional profiles of conventional meat.” As this alternative emerges, I suspect it may initially seem too “Frankenscience” for many meat-consumers (and former octopus eaters) to embrace.
To counter this resistance, I look to My Octopus Teacher for inspiration. The documentary’s power of persuasion comes not from pontificating or brow-beating, but from welcoming viewers into the worldview of an octopus so intimately that they gain a profound sense of respect for the creature’s intelligence, therefore inspiring enough empathy to refrain from eating it in some cases.
While My Octopus Teacher was enough to put some viewers off of octopus, the impact was sadly limited in scope (as evidenced by those guests who simply switched to pork). Still, I remain optimistic about people's ability to adopt meat alternatives that are better for their own health as well as that of the planet. I envision a day in the near future when cultivated and plant-based meat is the norm, and I can once again serve those oh-so-tender braised tentacles to my guiltless guests.
Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Society Insurance has been a leading niche insurance carrier since 1915. As a mutual insurance company, Society focuses on the small details that make a big difference to its policyholders while offering top-notch insurance coverage, service and competitive pricing to businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia and soon Texas.
“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Abby Roemer is a Food & Beverage Server, Artist-Painter, and LYT Yoga Method Teacher based in Denver, CO. Since age 14, this industry has guided her down a formidable path. Naturally inclined toward caring for others, serving has ultimately suited her best, but it’s working alongside colleagues that have fulfilled her most. She believes playfulness, humor and compassion are essential ingredients for an enjoyable shift, and so she makes a point to carry that energy in her field.
Apart from her vocations, free time is often spent climbing, chilling to podcasts, music, a good show, film or book, or shaking things up with travel and outdoor adventures.
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