14 DAY TRIAL // There have already been some successes in 3D printed food, but it's one thing to create a machine that can combine ingredients, and another to make a machine that can create the ingredients themselves.
Modern Meadow, a company based in Brooklyn, New York, claims that it can, with some time and money, create a 3D printer that can 3D print flesh. Processed flesh in fact.
To be more specific, Modern Meadow intends to make it possible to 3D print meat and leather, so that there may be no killing involved (retroactive or otherwise) in your purchasing of a new pair of boots or a hamburger.
Horizons Ventures, a firm belonging to Hong Kong based business magnate Li Ka-shing, has invested $10 million / €7.34 million in Modern Meadow to help it attain its goal. With that money, a new research headquarters will be built, and new employees will be hired as well.
At the moment, printing one square foot of leather takes 45 days, significantly less than the time it takes to raise an animal, feed it, and provide it shelter until you can, ahem, harvest its skin upon its timely demise.
As for 3D bioprinted meat, it will become a major interest of the company, now that samples have been successfully printed. Food will truly be synthetic in the future. Let's hope flavors don't disappear.