ADVENT: History

The Meat Industrial Revolution

"Even if ADVENT seems determined to put entire industries out of business, at least there is some kind of alternative."

- Carol Stossal, ADVENT Citizen

Proposal 0076

Latest Revision: 02/05/2017

Designation: Meat Cloning and Regulations Compliance Department (MCRCD)

Program Type: Regulatory Body (Food Safety); ADVENT Production Body

Authors: Keith Watkins, Chief Overseer of the Oversight Division; Dr. Richard Tygan, Chief Geneticist of the Research and Development Division; Dr. Moira Vahlen, Chief Scientist of XCOM; Matthew Sarvath, Deputy Minister of the AAFC.

INITIAL PROPOSAL: With the successful reverse engineering of cloning technology initially acquired by XCOM, which itself was derived from Sectoid cloning chambers, ADVENT has been provided with a series of opportunities for adoption beyond military and medical purposes. Cloning itself in regards to agricultural and animal development has been conceptualized for years, but only recently has technology existed to bring these concepts into practicality.

Extensive testing has confirmed the enormous potential of cloning food and meat products, and provides ADVENT with an opportunity to ensure that food shortages and worldwide hunger are reduced or eliminated. Currently selective cloning has yielded edible meats from all major meat types including, but not limited to the following:

- Beef

- Chicken

- Pork

- Lamb and Mutton

- Turkey

- Venison

- Duck

- Boar

- Multiple types of fish

This is achieved by taking multiple physical and genetic samples from various specimens and working to produce complete clones of various body parts. This was achieved with moderate success, and has been further refined to not only clone the various animal parts, but also enhance their nutritional values and flavor without sacrificing original textures and tastes.

The process by which cloned meat is made is extremely sanitary, as confirmed by the current Agriculture and Food Oversight Agency, with the meat not even being exposed to outside foreign bodies until ready to be used, cooked or eaten. Meat is produced in a raw state, and the inherent risks associated with the consumption of raw meat products has NOT been eliminated.

As the cloning process has been approved, cloned meat is ready for worldwide production and distribution, which is the purpose of the proposed MEAT CLONING AND REGULATIONS COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT (MCRCD) for the AGRICULTURE AND FOOD OVERSIGHT AGENCY (AFOA). However, in addition to managing the cloning and distribution of meat for ADVENT, it will also serve as the regulatory body for civilian organizations who also wish to engage in meat production – cloned or otherwise. From this point forward, all regulations, inspection, and oversight relating to meat production on an industrial or local level will be managed by the MCRCD.

ADVENT has a responsibility to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to enjoy the highest quality of meat, regardless of its source or if it is cloned or not. The MCRCD will work to ensure both that ADVENT food chains are supplied with cloned meat and that civilian organizations are adhering to the regulations established initially by the AFOA, as well as modifying, enforcing, creating, or reforming their own.

PERSONNEL COMPOSITION: The MCRCD will be composed of the following divisions:

CLONING RESEARCH AND REFINEMENT (CRR): This division will prioritize the acquisition of various animals to be genetically sequenced for cloning or other scientific endeavors, and will forward all research to the central ADVENT R&D Agency for further use and storage. In addition to genetic preservation, it will also continually refine the templates of multiple meat types to enhance them in various aspects without compromising previously achieved results. All new cloned products regardless of internal or external sources MUST be approved by the CRR before distribution (This applies primarily to external civilian organizations).

MEAT PRODUCTION: This division is responsible for the actual production of all cloned meat products, and manage the cloning vats, labs, repairs, and construction of all production facilities. All ADVENT-produced meat will come from this division.

MEAT DISTRIBUTION: This division is responsible for the distribution of all ADVENT-produced meat products either to storage facilities, ADVENT chains, relief programs, or other locations which ADVENT has authorized shipments to. They will utilize all modern means of shipment with ADVENT vehicles and equipment with minimal contact with outside contractors.

REGULATION REVIEW AND CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSALS (RRCP): The MCRCD will have a division dedicated to the maintenance and continued review of all current regulations and legalities, as well as a dedicated ambassador to the CONGRESS OF NATIONS to quickly propose reforms, additions, or changes as required or deemed necessary by internal research. Having a continually modernized ruleset allows for the greatest efficiency in a rapidly adapting and changing industry, and the MCRCD recognizes that multiple attempts will need to be made before what is truly necessary and effective emerges. The RRCP will ensure this is achieved in the minimum amount of time and provide further assistance in the future.

INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT: This division is responsible for ensuring that both MCRCD and civilian meat production facilities meet currently established ADVENT regulations for food and production cleanliness and sanitation. They will have extensive authority over civilian organizations, including the capabilities to shut down, fine, or arrest individuals and/or companies that fail to meet the regulations established by the AFOA and MCRCD. This division will have a dedicated security unit as well as authority to request assistance from the ADVENT PEACEKEERERS or the OVERSIGHT DIVISION.

ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNAL OVERSIGHT (AIO): This will be the central division of the MCRCD which will coordinate with the other department divisions to ensure maximum efficiency and quality. It will also manage all internal issues or disputes with a small and dedicated Internal Oversight team that will work in conjunction with the Oversight Division itself.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: Individuals will be recruited primarily through leveraging the current ADVENT Intelligence citizen database and targeting individuals with necessary qualifications, particularly those related to cloning or genetic research for high-skill positions within the MCRCD. Lower skilled positions will be recruited from the general population pool using a combination of online postings and recruitment centers.

For more specialized positions, such as security and internal investigation, transfers between various divisions and departments of ADVENT will be allowed for willing individuals, with the MCRCD being allowed to approach desirable candidates with the authorization of the original department in question.

Training will be conducted internally, with the complexity depending on the position itself. A majority of the positions will require hands-on training, while higher ranked and complex jobs will require prior experience in the field in question.

AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS: The MCRCD has complete control over the cloning of all meat products produced officially by ADVENT, as well as distribution and production. No other agency, division, or department in ADVENT can overrule the MCRCD in this area except by order of the CONGRESS OF NATIONS, the OVERSIGHT DIVISION, or ADVENT INTELLIGENCE.

The MCRCD also has the authority to enforce all currently established regulations on meat production, both cloning and industrial. Inspections are expected to be conducted every two weeks for all major and minor meat producers, as well as inspections without prior notification. Undercover and covert investigations are also authorized and within the full legal rights of MCRCD.

The MCRCD also will work with the ADVENT PEACEKEEPERS in the event that legal action is required against one or more businesses or individuals. They have the authority to immediately suspend production of one or more meat products, shut down entire production plants or farms, or make immediate arrests of workers and executives.

The exact length of shutdowns will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the violation. Production is unlikely to resume until the issue has been completely resolved to the satisfaction of the Inspection and Enforcement Division. Multiple violations will result in complete shutdown of the facility and official Peacekeeper involvement for investigating management. It is on the owners of these facilities to ensure that they meet ADVENT regulations. There are no exceptions made.

CONCLUSION: The technology of cloning represents a significant opportunity for ADVENT to further unite Humanity under us through showing that we are committed to solving the problems which have plagued Humanity for generations. In the age of cloning and sufficient technology, it is no longer acceptable to simply accept world hunger as a fact of life when technologies exist to completely mitigate them in an ethical and humane way.

In addition to reducing or eliminating world food shortages, this will allow ADVENT to increase its influence throughout the world, particularly in more impoverished countries in Africa, and further serving to ensure that the confidence of citizens, and public opinion of ADVENT remains high.

Memo distributed to the Administrative Staff of the ADVENT Internal Business and Assimilation Agency

With the work on large-scale meat cloning and production completed, as well as the formation of the Meat Cloning and Regulations Compliance Department (MCRCD), construction of cloning facilities will likely begin within the upcoming weeks. They will be primarily constructed in locations which are less vulnerable to possible alien attacks.

The current target is two hundred in total, with the bulk of production facilities being built in European member nations (Primarily Germany, France, and the United Kingdom), a moderate amount being constructed in the eastern half of the United States and Canada, and a minority being built in Asian and South American member nations (With the exception of India, which will have fifteen planned production facilities to account for the larger population).

Production facilities will be allowed to produce for several weeks to build up supply – it should be stressed that we do not expect an immediate profit or consumption by the general public. This kind of food growth is new and it is to be expected that there is to be some public skepticism, especially among lower income and lower education populations. Thus, the majority of initial production will be used for aid relief and supplying our military forces.

With this said, this means that the planned ADVENT Diner (Proposal 0671) will enter the first phase of deployment. Pilot Diners will be built in major cities with a limited menu to determine civilian interest and consumption habits. From this we will be able to determine if more Diners should be built in one area or another. A second expansion will happen regardless after a period of three months, this time targeting rural areas and locations with low-income citizens.

Construction or refitting of needed property and materials is underway, and should the schedule proceed as planned, the Diners will be ready to be opened to the public within four to six weeks. They are being fast-tracked during this lull, and in the future there may not be as many resources devoted to construction as there are now.

As these are being constructed, marketing will commence in approximately two weeks. This media blitz will primarily consist of advertising on official websites and social media, as well as targeted advertisements on video and social media platforms to users. To limit user turnoff, advertisements will have limited viewings. We want to promote this to make them curious, not harass them.

ADVENT is also preparing an invitation to prominent food critics (both professional and self-employed who primarily engage/review on social media and video sharing platforms) to showcase the initial menus. An embargo is set for one week before initial opening. Per critic/user request, ADVENT is allowing an option for us to not pay their travel expenses, nor invitations to several events. The leading scientists and designers behind the cloning technology and meat growth will also be in attendance to answer questions on the menu items themselves.

While critic opinion is notoriously unpredictable nor necessarily fair, especially as several of those invited are notably at odds with certain ADVENT policies, we are expecting standard to high reviews on the food itself. We are expecting higher reviews from non-traditional critics on social media platforms than professional critics.

This is the one section of the marketing strategy. The next is inviting various organizations and individuals to conduct independent tours and investigations of the production facilities themselves. We are primarily targeting vegetarian/vegan/animal rights groups for this, as there are a not-insignificant amount of people identifying as such because of beliefs in animal rights or protest against practices in the meat industry.

Predictions indicate that seeing that there are no animals harmed in these processes, and that the products are arguably enhanced will – potentially – net additional consumers since their ethical concerns will no longer be valid. If nothing else, confirmation that ADVENT does not practice the unethical and unsanitary procedures of other companies in the meat industry will put the Diners in a positive light and further increase public opinion of our practices.

As with the food event itself, those invited will consist of professional groups or individuals (Such as PETA, C.O.K, etc) and self-employed/amateur individuals/channels who primarily have an audience on social media or video sharing platforms. Please note that regardless of individual feelings towards these organizations, we ultimately benefit more from inviting them than they gain from us. If impartiality is potentially a concern for any individuals, please request a different assignment and it will be approved for that day.

The embargo for this tour will be the same as the food review event – one week prior to the official opening. In relation to that, there will be several other promotional/marketing campaigns being conducted around two weeks prior to launch. The official website will be launched three weeks prior to launch, and it will allow users to register and download a coupon for a free item of their choice – note: Initials sales will produce a loss, as our intention is to acquire repeat customers and allow them to try cloned meat without necessarily risking their money.

The website will also have informational content in the form of text and videos which explain the process behind the products. At the suggestion of Dr. Tygan, redacted scientific reports detailing certain methods and procedures will be allowed for download for moderate transparency. Dedicated social media platforms will also be launched around this time.

The second week before launch a promotion targeting families will be announced, which will include a free ADVENT Action Figure per every four items sold. Advertisements for this will be targeted to families, though will be allowed to propagate to other users. Action figures included in this promotion will initially consist of the following:

- ADVENT Soldier (Black armor)

- ADVENT Sniper

- ADVENT Rocketeer

- ADVENT Engineer

- SHIV

- MDU

- XCOM Soldier (Black, blue, and green armor)

Note: Gender and racial variations will be calculated based on the local population and gender ratios.

It is unknown how this promotion will affect sales. Should it prove to be a profitable and effective incentive, it is possible that this promotion will be made permanent with rarer action figures or timed exclusives being used to further encourage visits. The initial data will serve as a good means of checking on the accuracy of this assessment.

The ADVENT Diners themselves will have some form of automated interactions with customers. Multiple kiosks will be established where individuals can order items, pay, and request assistance if they wish. We are still working out the full extent of an automated/Human balance, and it ultimately ties into which aesthetic decision and direction we will make for them.

We have an opportunity here to develop something which can be a distinct piece of ADVENT culture for families and friends. While cliché, developing an experience beyond just food should be a priority as well, as it will ultimately be a piece of why people will come back. We are experimenting with a variety of possible different styles and layouts for Diners, which revolve around certain 'themes'. Futuristic, retro, cyberpunk, and others which can be further adapted from specific countries and people.

Initially, this will be a 'standard' Diner without any themes or modifications, as it is to initially gauge interest and get people used to the idea. This can be modified in the future when there is an established base of customers.

ADVENT Diners will have in-house and drive-through options, with online ordering ahead of time which can be picked up in-house or drive-through. The exact size of the Diners will vary depending on location and potential population. The menu itself will consist of the following items:

- ADVENT Burgers™ (Single, double, and deluxe varieties)

- ADVENT Chicken Sandwich™

- ADVENT Chicken Tenders™ (3, 6, and 9 counts)

- ADVENT Fries™

- ADVENT Fish Fillets™

- ADVENT Fish Sandwich™

- ADVENT Ham Sandwich™

- ADVENT Garden Salad™

The limited menu is due to the initial deployment and uncertain data regarding sales of certain items. After one to two months of sales, refinements and expansions of the menu can be determined. As the ADVENT Diner is initially meant to normalize the population to cloned meat, the menu is largely based on this with few vegetable options. This will be expanded in the future, or possibly moved to other spin-off ADVENT chains should the initial Diner prove a successful venture.

Please pass along this information to all relevant parties and be proud in your involvement in what will hopefully be the first chain in the ADVENT State Restaurant Initiative!

- Martin White, Director of the ADVENT Internal Business and Assimilation Agency

The announcement of cloning is one that has and does start a firestorm of controversy. When ADVENT revealed that they were in possession of working cloning technology, there was and continues to be extensive speculation as to what ADVENT plans to utilize it for. While the military applications are an obvious direction ADVENT can take, they surprised the world when it was formally announced that the first utilization of this technology would not be with Human, or even living creatures, but with meat.

In a lengthy statement, ADVENT announced that they had been researching and pursuing a path to grow various kinds of meat for public consumption which they call "Safe, humane, and delicious". This announcement was accompanied by confirmation that ADVENT plans to launch their own restaurant chain, simply called an "ADVENT Diner", though Director White of ADVENT's Internal Business and Assimilation Agency was quick to point out that ADVENT intends to do more with this technology than profit for it.

"We are presented with an opportunity, the likes of which hasn't been seen in Human history," White said. "The first opportunity to tackle world hunger and have a reasonable chance to end it. We now have the capability to produce thousands of pounds of high-quality meat within weeks which can be distributed all over the world without concern for the exorbitant costs associated with raising, caring for, and slaughtering livestock."

The ADVENT Diplomatic Corps has also issued similar statements and reached out to multiple countries offering aid assistance, as well as supplying internal ADVENT shelters and homeless programs with the newly grown meat. ADVENT, through the newly developed Meat Cloning and Regulations Compliance Department (MCRCD) is also planning to export these products to foreign nations once deals are reached.

The announcement has similarly sent shockwaves through the farming and meat sectors of business; many of whom were blindsided by this unexpected development. Meat industry giants in particular are viewing this development with concern, as it is seen as another means by which ADVENT is putting it's 'competition' out of business.

"This feels like an attack on not just our business, but every business which is not under the direct control of ADVENT," Tyson Foods CEO Daniel Eversteen said to media outlets. "ADVENT has an innate advantage when entering markets. They leverage their scientists and engineers to solve problems which don't exist, when their true responsibility should be dealing with the alien threat, not putting hard-working companies out of business."

Eversteen went on to decry the additional regulations ADVENT has just recently begun enforcing. "It isn't enough to cheat in this way, they can leverage the government against us to force us to conform to their crippling regulations and further drive our prices up and continue hurting the consumers – or more to the point – driving them to ADVENT who entices them with artificially low prices."

Eversteen isn't the only CEO of the meat industry who has expressed dissatisfaction with ADVENT. Long-criticized for questionable practices in sanitary and humane contexts, new regulations recommended by the MCRCD state that each company which has meat production facilities must meet certain standards of livestock conditions, spacing, slaughtering, and cleanliness. Bi-weekly and unannounced inspections are regularly performed, and to date thirty-seven production plants across several industrial giants have been shuttered until standards are met, with severe fines also imposed. To date no arrests have been made, but it's an open secret that certain business leaders are under the ever-present eye of the MCRCD – who are continuously speculated to have the backing of ADVENT Intelligence and the Peacekeepers.

As a result Tyson Foods is just one of many companies who are having to drastically overhaul their production plants and factories to fit within ADVENT's standards – ADVENT has not been completely unreasonable, as it has warned companies that these regulations would be coming for several months, and is giving them a period of three months to bring everything up to standards in most cases.

"This is costing us time and money," Michell Peterson, CEO of JBS USA stated earlier in the month. "Costs which we unfortunately have to make up, even as ADVENT swoops in to take advantage of our struggle." He is not the first to suggest – or threaten as some have interpreted it as – that this may result in higher costs for their products, jacking up prices worldwide.

ADVENT in return has not been apologetic. "We believe that our citizens should have access to the finest quality food available, no matter if it comes from us or one of the many businesses who operate within our boarders," Director White said when asked about the complaints lodged by the industry giants. "If there are companies which feel that they are being treated unfairly, these regulations were put together and approved by experts in fields of biology, disease, sanitation, and the finest regulatory bodies from around the world backed by additional science and data. This isn't a conspiracy to put our so-called 'competitors' out of business. If these companies are so opposed to making food safer and cleaner, I believe that says something about where their priorities lie."

ADVENT has not just faced concern on a business level, there is also concern that this is going to hurt smaller beef and chicken farmers across the world, already trying to compete with the larger industry giants, are now having to deal with the reality that ADVENT is also infringing on their business. "People think this is a childish thing to say," Roy Keaser, a cattle farmer in Ohio said. "But it's unfair. They've got a whole fucking government and a blank check to work with. None of us have that. How are we supposed to compete with this?"

While Director White has said that he understands and sympathizes with the farmers affected, but has said – in no uncertain terms – that they will just have to deal with it. "Industries advance and change as technology emerges," he stated in a press conference. "ADVENT, of course, does not intend to horde this technology but is fully willing to sell it to interested companies and individuals, provided they operate within the established regulations. I encourage all those who feel that this gives us an unfair advantage to contact our Agency so we can work together on a level playing field. But one thing to understand is that the status quo is simply not acceptable any longer. Competition drives progress, and it has been stagnant for too long in too many areas. The market will decide who is worth spending their money on, and I encourage any business or entity to prove that you are better than we are."

It hasn't been complete criticism of ADVENT. Multiple animal rights groups are heralding this development as a landmark achievement for humane meat growth and distribution. ADVENT has shown off it's production facilities to a multitude of vegetarian, vegan, and animal rights activists to demonstrate their humane approach to meat, and it's been met with universal acclaim from these groups, some members who had previously boycotted meat products due to the industry practices say that they may be able to eat meat without the guilt or feeling like they were betraying their own values.

Various aid organizations also lauded ADVENT for their commitment to directly tackling world hunger and supporting local homeless shelters and food banks. While the more cynical have made their opinions known that this is nothing more than a means for ADVENT to acquire additional soft power and boost their image, they are a minority in a vast sea of approval.

There have also been several up and coming startup companies which have insisted that this is a major opportunity for the future. Several billionaires have already begun heavily investing in cloning technology, seeing an opportunity with the industry titans threatened. "Anyone who says ADVENT is bad for business is jealous that the status quo is being shaken up," Raymond Sirta, known for his investments in genetic science and Silicon Valley said in a recent interview. "It's clear what ADVENT wants. They want innovation, they want competition. They are declaring to all the complacent CEOs and billionaires that, guess what, they aren't good enough anymore. You want your money? Earn it."

For his own part, Sirta is more interested in genetic science and adapting the cloning technology for purposes beyond food. "ADVENT's already got the market cornered for the time being," Sirta said. "Food isn't going anywhere, and what they're allowing us to use…well, let's say the possibilities are endless." Sirta is hopeful that he will be able to produce something that ADVENT itself will want to buy, and he wishes his competitors good luck.

"What you're going to start to see is diversification," Christian Zao, a Korean millionaire heavily invested in overseas trade commented. "This is the wakeup call that everyone in every sector of business needed. ADVENT is going to try to do everything, and if you're paying attention, you might be able to predict how they do it." Zao himself has heavily invested in Meat Mirror, a recently formed company which intends to make full use of the cloning technology ADVENT is making available.

But in the midst of this meat revolution, the question of if the world is even ready for such a drastic change is still up for debate. Opinions are mixed, even as ADVENT has begun advertising for their upcoming food chains. People are interested, even if they are skeptical. ADVENT has stated that reviews have been "Extremely positive" but if that will be enough to sell the idea of meat grown in a lab is unknown.

"I'll stick with the real thing," Citizen Kory Avas said when asked his opinion. "It could be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's fake. I want my meat to come from a real cow, off real bones. Nothing more to it than that."

His sentiment is echoed by many, but there is without a doubt an underlying curiosity. People seem interested to try.

It's up to ADVENT to prove that cloned meat lives up to the hype.

- Article: The Meat Revolution: ADVENT is Changing the Game – by Sierra O'Donnel