I’m calling BS on this. Their “explanation” was “it uses ultraviolet light”. Then they say they can’t explain it because nobody can understand it. Even if it were possible to electronically manufacture vegetables, what would be the advantage? How much electricity, equipment, and raw material would it take compared to conventional farming? What are those raw materials, and what does it require to produce them?
To me it sounds like carrot cell soup theoretically growable in a similar structure as hydroponics. Not the hydroponic part, but the layered rows of UV-lit product, here it sounds like the product would be cell-soup in tubs.
Then instead of just hardening it and cutting it out, they send it through a printer gantry to make a vaguely carrot-shaped mass.
So, did I misinterpret it?
I am curious about how liquid or solid the product is throughout the printing procedure, how it’s handled.
Edit: It’s normal carrot, pureed then printed.
Edit 2: This is interesting, though.
“The large-scale or mass cultivation of plant cells is the growth of plant cell suspensions at volumes above those normally produced in shake flasks, that is, above IL. Attempts to grow plant cells in fermenters or bioreactors started in the early 1960s with converted carboys. The area has developed steadily, such that today bioreactors in excess of 5000 L have been used successfully for large-scale plant cell culture.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21390630/
So I’m guessing this kind of product is what they’ve figured out that they can print and harden with UV?
If it can be grown in a massive sterile food processing tank I can see how that can easily produce the plant cell volume equivalent to a lot of good acreage, and while I don’t see the value in shaping the product like natural carrots, layering and UV curing to harden each layer might genuinely produce good and usable, edible carrot-like blocks?
the real story here is machines that never require maintenance. What miracle technology for mechanics have they found?
I can’t wait for someone to invent meat-based plants to compliment the plant-based meats.
But it’s Arby’s so it’s inedible.
Currently, 3kg (6.6lb) [of carrots cost] 15 riyals ($4.12). We can sell 3kg [of 3D-printed carrots] for 10 riyals ($2.75), only for carrots
Because, (Waves hands) 3d printed carrots. Molds are to costly, and take to much time to use.
Like the old timey chicken nuggets with brown meat.
Yeah they really buried the lede here. The big news is the claim that they can sell cultured carrot cells for cheaper than grown carrots. The 3D printing part is besides the point.
Also the carrot shape isn’t really ideal for cooking. Annoying to split into smaller pieces. If you have the freedom to print it in any shape then I’d take big blocks personally. Much easier to stack, store and cut into arbitrary shapes for cooking. Molds definitely seem like a better idea for mass production than slow 3D printing.
Using a process known as plant cell culture, cells from the vegetables are harvested and multiplied in sterile lab conditions. They are then used to create the UV-sensitive printer ink used in the machine. The cells can then be molded and printed in the shape of a carrot, or any shape preferred with the 3D printer
How long does the cell culture take? is it just a slush of food juice made solid or does it taste anything like the real thing.
Even aeroponics don’t taste like traditionally grown food, and they’re grown from real plants. So many questions
But it will help solve the food scarcity problems if it’s made accessible for all. I wish them all the best.