About the Author
Jim Mellon
Jim Mellon is a British entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and author. The first book he co-authored was Wake Up!, which foresaw the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. He has written a further 7 books mainly on investing. In 2017 his book, Juvenescence, marked the beginning of a rush of capital into the nascent field of ageing research. His most recent non-fiction book, Moo’s Law, focuses on investment opportunities in the field of cellular agriculture. He strongly believes that technical innovation combined with the harrowing effects of industrial farming will radically transform global protein production, for the better.
He has written Juno’s Ark because he believes that he must spread the message to the younger generation and his dogs have inspired the story by which he gently introduces youngsters to the cruelty in animal farming and how technology has developed ways of growing meat in labs without harming animals.
Jim will donate 50% of the proceeds from JUNO’S ARK to Danos Una Oportunidad (DUO), a dog shelter in Ibiza. The other 50% will be donated to Compassion in World Farming, the leading farm animal welfare charity.
Jim sits on the Board of Trustees of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). He is an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College at the University of Oxford, where he has established the Mellon Centre for Longevity, and Jim also sits on the Advisory Board of the Milken Institute’s Centre for the Future of Aging.
FAQ
The real Juno started her life in a horrid way, in a cage, in one of the most disgraceful animal dog shelters on the planet. Her mother, Juniper, who now lives with Juno and Jim, was probably forced to have pups, despite being fragile and small.
Jim and his partner adopted Juniper and her puppies, but were only able to bring Juno and her siblings back to her loving home when she was eight weeks old. In this time Juniper escaped from the shelter. The dogs there were chained up, badly fed, and lived in horrible conditions.
While Juno and her siblings got to know Jim, Juniper got to know Ibiza. It wasn’t until three years later, Juniper roaming all around the island in the meantime, that Jim was able to welcome her into his home, where she has been happy ever since.
Today, Juno, Juniper, Jingles, Twisis, Ray , Circles and Bowie – all of them special characters – live together, play together, and bring Jim and his partner the greatest joy imaginable.
I have been in biotech for past 15 years and have been involved in some very successful companies. I am passionate about animal welfare and been a pescatarian for many years and do not eat dairy products. A few years ago I read about some early research into growing real meat in labs. I was very excited as it seemed like a great way to reduce industrial farming which at best is cruel to animals and at worst repulsive, yet provide those who eat meat with tasty, safe meat.
I studied all the research I could find, visited many labs and spoke with scientists involved and after many months of research I wrote Moo’s Law – An investor’s Guide to the New Agrarian Revolution. I then co-founded a company called Agronomics a London-listed company which is building a portfolio of investments in the most promising cultivated protein companies in the field of cellular agriculture.
Following the success of Moo’s Law, I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with a younger audience. I imagined Juno and my other hounds leading the rescue of abused animals and started writing this story!
Juno and her siblings are always involved with something exciting and I plan to share more about their adventures very soon.
All my other books are written for adults. Here are some of them: