Hi, this is Vanessa, your ENLIGHTENMENT host.

Cacao, the fruit which gives us cocoa beans (and ultimately chocolate), is in a lot of trouble. Deforestation is rising and yields are plummeting. Not to mention there’s a lot of child labor involved in its harvesting and production. By 2032, an estimated 50% of cacao farmland will be unfit for production by 2032.

So Alan Perlstein, who spent the last 20 years in cellular agriculture and pharmaceuticals, had an idea: Why not bypass the tree and just grow the bean? In 2020, he launched California Cultured, a food tech company based in Davis and West Sacramento that makes real chocolate from plant cells.

Like a lot of us, Perlstein is a chocoholic. “That was one of the reasons I wanted to make better, healthier sweets. We’re all addicted to them, let’s make them better.”

Join me for a discussion with Perlstein, as he’ll tell us how his plant cell culture technology could revolutionize the chocolate industry, restore rainforest, reduce child labor, and more.

Bring your questions — nothing’s too small or too dumb to ask.

Ruhstaller BSMT has a variety of beers on tap, as well as wine, kombucha and nonalcoholic drinks — feel free to BYO food.

Claim your seat - Register here on our Eventbrite page..