Would you eat a steak that was 3D printed?
This is a question that we are all likely to be confronted with in the next few years.
3D printing is affecting numerous industries. Food production is no different. Now that there are a number of options for "plant-based" meat, the formula is already set.
What this means is that 3D printers could be added to the mix to produce the meats a lot less expensively.
What we are looking at has the potential to completely disrupt the food industry. Many ranchers are going to be threatened by this simply because of all the negatives that are associated with the present way we "develop" meat.
In addition to land, there is a lot of drinking water that is used for the cows. At the same time, a great deal of agriculture is spent on growing grain for cows to eat.
One of the biggest reasons for the quest to add technology to the process of food production is to increase the output. With a growing population, we are in need of greater production. Ideas such as 3D printing enables the ability to speed up the process.
Traditional ranching requires a couple years from calf to slaughter. This is a process that is just too slow. Nature set the time table and it is not speeding up. Technology is looking to increase the pace of development.
We will likely see all the major food producers jump on board with these different technologies. Over time, their processes will be altered as they are implemented into their business models.
By 2030, I would expect the majority of our food will come from sources outside where they do today. Meat is going to see a radical change over the next decade. From a practical to humanitarian standpoint, we are going to see the flaws in our present ranching and agricultural system.
Posted via Steemleo
