The Food of The Future...
Food. It's the one thing that no organism can survive without. It's essential for sustaining and nurturing life. But unfortunately, food isn't available everywhere. Countries like Kenya and Afghanistan are suffering major food shortages. How can this be fixed?
Here's a unique idea: why don't we all 3D print the food?
3D printing was a major technology breakthrough that began in the mid-1980s but has developed its way into our everyday lives. Now it's common to see these printers in schools and labs everywhere. It can have multiple uses, from making phone cases to building prostate body parts to help the disabled. Originally, all of this was created using nothing but plastic.
That's when a new idea came along from the thriving company, Natural Machines. Introducing the printer that prints food, Foodini.
Foodini is a 3D printer much unlike any other. First announced in 2013, it prints out a variety of foods, from pizza to spaghetti to scones and cookies.
But how does Foodini do its magic?
Think of it as if you're icing a cupcake. Every time you ice it, you have to add another layer. Much like that, Foodini uses pouches of food into the machine and sets a pattern in which the consumer wants the food to come out in. Within a few minutes, the food is made, fresh and ready. The consumer can choose what ingredients they want to fill Foodini with.
Unfortunately, there is a downside. Foodini has not yet developed a way to heat up the food it makes, and so any 3D printed food will have to be taken out of Foodini and cooked in an oven if it's necessary.
Engineers hope that this new invention will lower the costs of meals. This will be very helpful in countries where food is more scarce. Foodini has a low maintenance, and it presents itself as a cheaper way to feed people. Scientists also hope that it will become a viable resource in space.
Sadly, Foodini is not in stores just yet. At the moment, it only co-exists in a few restaurants. The co-founder of Natural Machines, Lynette Kucsma, explains why. "You're not gonna walk into a kitchen appliance store, see a 3D food printer and say 'Hey I need one of those, let me buy one!'It's too new of a concept, people don't know what it is." She plans to sell Foodini at prices around $2,000, which is a really good price for such a high-tech invention.
Until then, let's keep our fingers crossed for the new foods of the future!
Here's a unique idea: why don't we all 3D print the food?
3D printing was a major technology breakthrough that began in the mid-1980s but has developed its way into our everyday lives. Now it's common to see these printers in schools and labs everywhere. It can have multiple uses, from making phone cases to building prostate body parts to help the disabled. Originally, all of this was created using nothing but plastic.
That's when a new idea came along from the thriving company, Natural Machines. Introducing the printer that prints food, Foodini.
Foodini is a 3D printer much unlike any other. First announced in 2013, it prints out a variety of foods, from pizza to spaghetti to scones and cookies.
But how does Foodini do its magic?
Think of it as if you're icing a cupcake. Every time you ice it, you have to add another layer. Much like that, Foodini uses pouches of food into the machine and sets a pattern in which the consumer wants the food to come out in. Within a few minutes, the food is made, fresh and ready. The consumer can choose what ingredients they want to fill Foodini with.
Unfortunately, there is a downside. Foodini has not yet developed a way to heat up the food it makes, and so any 3D printed food will have to be taken out of Foodini and cooked in an oven if it's necessary.
Engineers hope that this new invention will lower the costs of meals. This will be very helpful in countries where food is more scarce. Foodini has a low maintenance, and it presents itself as a cheaper way to feed people. Scientists also hope that it will become a viable resource in space.
Sadly, Foodini is not in stores just yet. At the moment, it only co-exists in a few restaurants. The co-founder of Natural Machines, Lynette Kucsma, explains why. "You're not gonna walk into a kitchen appliance store, see a 3D food printer and say 'Hey I need one of those, let me buy one!'It's too new of a concept, people don't know what it is." She plans to sell Foodini at prices around $2,000, which is a really good price for such a high-tech invention.
Until then, let's keep our fingers crossed for the new foods of the future!
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