With the revolutionary advent of technology, we are presently a witness to the transitioning of a
significant technological idea into reality! 3D printing in the food industry! That’s what we are
talking about! Before delving into the benefits that this phenomenon has to offer and eventually
unearthing reasons why the food industry (along with a bevy of other industries like Packaging,
Autmotive and Aerospace) has invested heavily in 3D Printing, let us find out what it actually is!
3D Printing in the Food Industry: What is it?
To put it simply, 3D printing primarily employs the procedure of additive manufacturing. It
entails the 3D deposition printers slowly depositing layers of material – vertically—i.e. one layer
on top of the other—till an entire product is created! These printers leverage powdery materials,
nozzles and lasers for food customization.
Since the last 30 years the Additive Manufacturing process has been embraced by industries
making plastics, polymers and metals. Edible products have only been considered in the last few
years.
A long cherished Dream is a Reality today!
3D printing in food industry is not really a scientific fancy but has serious benefits to consider.
And what exactly do we mean here? Read on to find out more in this regard.
One of the immediate benefits is the reduction of wastage. Those employing 3D food printers
ensure that only the required amount of raw materials is used for preparing food.
Researches conducted in the Maastricht University, Netherlands, for example, have shown that
3D printed meat can actually go on to reduce greenhouse emissions by 96% — by utilizing only
1% of the land 4% of water and 45% of the energy. Conventional beef production – on the other
hand- entails much more energy.
The worth of 3D printing industry is likely to touch a whopping 3 billion dollars in the near
future. Food, of course, has a crucial role to play in the unprecedented growth of this
phenomenon. The impact of 3D printing is not really restricted to a single aspect – i.e.
customizability. There are other immediate beneficial apects to be considered as well. Do read on
for further information.
The Immediate Benefits to be Considered!
At the heart of the desirable trajectory of this particular phenomenon is food sustainability. 3D
food printing technology is backed by the power to keep on supplying for the ever-growing
global population. Conventional food creation processes, of course, dont have this power!
Food printers are largely known to leverage hydrocolloid cartridges that are transformed into gel
when combined with water. This minimizes wastage. Duckweed, algae and grass are few of the
very rarely used ingredients that can be used with the 3D technology.
Cocktail and garnishing experiments require much less time and effort with 3D printing
technology. It has been opined that not even a trained pastry chef can actually achieve the kind of
precision and aesthetics that 3D printing can do!
What more? Personalized food creation is all about the employment of the right amount of
nutrients according to the “age” and “gender” based needs in a much easier fashion than what is
imaginable in the case of traditional food creation.