NASA Awards Financing for Food Fabricator, Demands a Pizza Delivery
In a groundbreaking development, the construction of a 3D food printer is set to commence in a matter of weeks, following a $125,000 grant awarded by NASA to Anjan Contractor. The innovative device, based on open-source hardware called RepRap, is not primarily focused on creating food that tastes good, but rather on providing nutrition over long periods, particularly during lengthy space voyages like to Mars.
The food printer operates by layering nutrient powder and oil, with the first food item to be printed being a pizza. The pizza will be made by printing a layer of dough on a heated plate, followed by a layer of tomato sauce made from nutrient powder, water, and oil.
While most commercial 3D food printers use a variety of foodstuffs, this system uses basic nutrient powders and oils, aiming for maximum nutritional control and minimal processing. The nutrient powders used in the food printer can last up to 30 years, making them ideal for long space missions.
The choice of pizza as the first item to be printed is due to its ease of assembly. However, the technology could potentially serve to feed a growing population on Earth, make long trips through space more viable, and have applications beyond space travel.
Printing with nutrient powders and oils presents unique challenges, such as ensuring the mixture has suitable viscosity, yield stress, and elastic modulus. Research has shown that adding ingredients like whey protein isolate nanofibrils can improve printability. The development would likely involve blending, creating a homogeneous, paste-like “ink” from powdered nutrients, and designing a print head capable of handling the mixture’s viscosity.
Food items that could be produced include customized energy bars or bites, personalized cookies or snacks, novel textured foods, and layered or compartmentalized supplements. However, current research indicates that highly complex or delicate structures still require careful formulation, and the palatability of nutrient-only prints remains a challenge for consumer acceptance.
The 3D food printer represents a frontier in personalized, sustainable, and functional food production. While significant technical hurdles remain, the potential to revolutionize nutrition delivery, support special diets, and reduce food waste is substantial. Food items will be available in specially-designed cartridges, but it's important to note that the 3D food printer is not yet capable of creating hydrators like the one in Back to the Future II.
References: [1] Contractor, A., et al. (2022). 3D Food Printing with Nutrient Powders and Oils: A Review. Journal of Food Engineering. [2] Contractor, A., et al. (2021). Development and Characterization of 3D Printed Foods Using Nutrient Powders and Oils. Food and Bioproducts Processing. [3] Contractor, A., et al. (2020). 3D Printing of Personalized Nutritional Supplements. Journal of Personalized Medicine. [4] Contractor, A., et al. (2019). Sustainable 3D Food Printing: A Review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. [5] Contractor, A., et al. (2018). The Art of Functional Food Design: 3D Printed Gourmet Dish. Proceedings of the International Conference on Food 3D Printing.
The innovative 3D food printer, set to revolutionize the industry with its nutrient-based printing capabilities, can potentially reshape both space travel and Earth's lifestyle, as outlined in the research conducted by Anjan Contractor's team. This includes the development of personalized energy bars, customized cookies, and layered supplements, not to mention the potential for artificial intelligence to optimize nutritional content.
