Paul Shapiro is an American author, animal rights advocate, and entrepreneur, primarily known for his work in the animal welfare movement and the alternative protein industry.
Shapiro is a prominent voice in the movement for a more humane and sustainable food system. He is the author of Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World (2018), which explores the science, history, and implications of cellular agriculture. His later works include Butchering the Planet: The Destructive Nature of Factory Farming and the Strategies for Creating a Truly Sustainable Food System (2024), co-authored with Chris Green.
Throughout his career, Shapiro has held leadership positions in influential animal advocacy organizations. He previously served as the Vice President of Policy at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), where he led legislative campaigns and corporate engagement efforts. Prior to HSUS, he founded and served as the executive director of Compassion Over Killing (COK), an organization focused on undercover investigations and public education campaigns regarding animal agriculture.
Currently, Shapiro is the CEO of The Better Meat Co., a company that develops mycoprotein-based alternative proteins for use in meat analogues and hybrid products. He is also a frequent speaker on topics related to food technology, animal ethics, and environmental sustainability. His work advocates for innovative solutions to reduce reliance on conventional animal agriculture, including the development and adoption of plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives.