Weird to describe one of the applications as solving famine. We can already do that with grains and pulses, and more efficiently than using those as feedstocks for an expensive industrial process.
Even in developed countries I'm not sure this approach makes sense. Switching to grains and pulses for protein is viable. It's the lifestyle habits, including food preparation and flavour profiles, that are difficult to change. Embedding beef into rice grains doesn't seem to solve the problem of longing for the flavour/texture of steak or bacon.
I agree that the solving famine argument doesn't make sense. Famine is a problem of economics, politics, and distribution. We have the technology today to end famine, just not the political will.
