Pleasure Poultry Project

In the style of a short story by Isaac Asimov, write a narrative account of a plausible, but fictional process where, step by step through selective breeding, an ethically conscious farming project creates a breed of chickens that feel pleasure in factory farm conditions and actually want to be eaten, creating meat to which vegans can have no objections.

Title: The Pleasure Poultry Project

In a future where the population had swelled to unprecedented numbers, humanity was faced with the ethical dilemma of how to sustainably and morally produce food. Traditional factory farming had come under scrutiny for its inhumane practices and environmental implications. Vegans and vegetarians had increased in number, and yet, the world's demand for meat remained high.

Dr. Linda Marlowe, a geneticist and staunch animal rights advocate, believed there was a solution that could reconcile these conflicting needs. She proposed a bold experiment: to selectively breed a new generation of chickens that would thrive and even find pleasure in factory farm conditions and, more shockingly, would desire to be consumed by humans. She dubbed it the "Pleasure Poultry Project."

Her project faced massive criticism. Many found the idea grotesque, while others argued that manipulating the natural instincts of an animal was immoral. But Marlowe had a different perspective. "If we can reduce suffering by creating an animal that is genuinely content in its environment and with its fate," she argued, "we are ethically obligated to pursue this."

The breeding began with identifying chickens that exhibited even the slightest sign of contentment in confined conditions. Over generations, the most contented were selected and bred. Concurrently, Marlowe's team introduced a gene that released pleasure-inducing chemicals when the chicken consumed typical factory farm feed. The result was a bird that not only thrived in confined conditions but actively enjoyed it.

The most controversial aspect, however, was the chicken's desire to be consumed. To achieve this, Marlowe’s team identified a natural mechanism in chickens where they desired to serve a greater purpose for their flock. This instinct was amplified. The chickens began showing a unique behavior: they would willingly approach the harvesting machines, exhibiting signs of contentment.

Decades passed, and the Pleasure Poultry Project was deemed a success. Meat from these chickens was marketed as "Consent Meat." The chickens were not only healthy and plentiful, but they also lived lives filled with pleasure, right up to their chosen end.

The debate among vegans and vegetarians was fierce. Many embraced the solution, viewing it as a harmonious compromise. Others felt it was a perversion of nature, an abomination of the natural order.

Dr. Marlowe, in her later years, reflected on her legacy. "We've created a world where suffering has been minimized, where an animal has agency over its destiny. I believe, in this context, we've done something truly humane."

However, the Pleasure Poultry Project raised profound questions about the nature of happiness, free will, and the ethics of manipulating life for our own ends. As with many breakthroughs in history, whether it was seen as a step forward or a descent into moral ambiguity remained in the eyes of the beholder.