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"As opposed to illiteracy, where you can't read, aliteracy means that you can but you just can't be bothered. They say aliteracy is on the rise these days."
- Peter Watts

Scop  
  Protein grown in bacteria-filled vats.  

Okay, you don't eat cows, chickens or fish. How about a smaller creature - really small? Single Cell Protein (SCP) is making competitive inroads on soybean and fishmeal for feed supplementation.

David was a health-food nut, a great devotee of unnatural foods. After eight years of marriage, Laura was used to it. At least the scop was improving. Even the scop, single-cell protein, was better these days. It tasted all right, if you could forget the image of protein vats crammed with swarming bacteria.
Technovelgy from Islands in the Net, by Bruce Sterling.
Published by William Morrow in 1988
Additional resources -

The word "scop" is what you get when you try to say the acronym SCP (single cell protein) as a word.

Apparently, Russia is the only country that has been really serious about trying to adopt single cell protein as a meat substitute. The most successful use of "scop" as food is the commercial product mycoprotein:

Mycoprotein is a food made by continuous fermentation of the fungus, Fusarium gramineurum. The fungus is grown in a large fermentation tower to which oxygen, nitrogen, glucose, minerals, and vitamins are continually added. After harvesting, the fungus is heat treated to reduce its RNA content to World Health Organisation recommended levels before being filtered and drained. The resulting sheet of fungal mycelia is mixed with egg albumen which acts a binder. Flavouring and colouring may also be added. The mycoprotein is then textured to resemble meat, before being sliced, diced or shredded. (Vegetarian Society)

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Islands in the Net
  More Ideas and Technology by Bruce Sterling
  Tech news articles related to Islands in the Net
  Tech news articles related to works by Bruce Sterling

Scop-related news articles:
  - Can Bacteria Provide Food In Space?

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