3D printed artificial meat is going commercial

arts/

Now, Mea Tech 3D, an Israeli start-up, is putting the technology of 3D printing artificial meat into the commercial field. Mea Tech is the first faux meat company to go public in the United States. The company aims to develop proprietary 3D bioprinting technologies, biotech processes and cell-based manufacturing processes for food processors and food retail companies seeking to produce alternative protein products more sustainably.

Previously, it focused on the development of bovine and chicken cell product lines. As pork is currently the most consumed meat globally, Mea Tech expanded its product line in the first half of 2021, launching research and development of porcine cell culture technology.

According to reports, to make "cultured meat", stem cells must first be extracted from the target animal. It then uses its proprietary 3D bioprinter to precisely print layers of fat and muscle cells following a beef steak-like structure. After bioprinting, it is incubated in an incubator as structured tissue. The entire process is done in an ultra-clean environment, and the resulting perfectly clean artificial meat not only retains the look, taste, texture and consistency of real meat. And it doesn't contain antibiotics or hormones like farmed meat.

According to different requirements, 3D printing can also adjust the fat and lean ratio of meat. However, due to the still high cost of 3D printing "cultured meat", mass production is facing challenges.

Obviously, 3D printed artificial meat still has a long way to go to become a mainstream meat product, and there are some problems to be solved. However, the advantages of 3D printing artificial meat cannot be ignored. For example, in addition to ensuring the nutrients needed by the human body, it can reduce cholesterol in blood vessels and enhance disease resistance; greatly reduce water, land area and energy use, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and so on.

From a longer-term point of view, artificial meat must be the long-term trend.

On the one hand, as the global population continues to grow, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that global demand for meat will increase by 70% in 2050 compared to today. Based on this, the rise of alternative meat is seen as an important step in overturning traditional animal husbandry, combating the increasingly serious global warming problem, avoiding animal slaughter, and avoiding the health risks of long-term human consumption of raised animals.

On the other hand, 3D food printing can reduce waste and lead to more health by making food using only the required amount of ingredients. 3D food printing can freely change the texture and combination of food, and it can be used in the diet of elderly patients or other patients with dysphagia to increase their food choices and improve eating conditions.