"The grant comes from from Thiel Foundation’s Breakout Labs , who will be giving $250,000 to $350,000 to Modern Meadow to develop an “edible cultured meat prototype that can provide a humane and sustainable source of animal protein.” Lindy Fishburne, Breakout Labs’ executive director, says:
Modern Meadow is combining regenerative medicine with 3D printing to imagine an economic and compassionate solution to a global problem. We hope our support will help propel them through the early stage of their development, so they can turn their inspired vision into reality.
They’re in the early stages, alright. Their research information on the United States Department of Agriculture website has plenty of ideas and planning, but no reports on their progress. However, Modern Meadow does have Gabor Forgacs, the man behind Organovo , as its chief scientist, so it probably knows what it’s doing.
At the moment, their goal is to print “a strip of edible porcine tissue.” Far from a juicy steakful of awesome, but we’ll see. Soon."
Impact on the Market - An Example of a Business Making Their Mark!
As an example, Kodak have made some successes here. Before any printing can be undertaken, an image or plan must be acquired and delivered to the printing system. Kodak has developed innovative solutions in scanning and sharing that will prove useful when embracing 3D printing. In 2005, Kodak acquired a leading provider of compact computed radiography systems – OREX Computed Radiography Ltd. The technology digitally acquires x-ray images and allows them to be shared and notated http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Our_Company/History_of_Kodak/Milestones_-_chronology/Milestones-_chronology.htm.
CAD (computer-aided design) technology is also utilised medically with the Kodak Mammography CAD engine being FDA approved in 2004 http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ DeviceApprovalsandClearances/Recently-ApprovedDevices/ucm079437.htm . This technology fits in well with 3D printing as, once images are acquired, they can be used to design replacement body parts printed in a 3D printer.
Kodak
showcased its expertise in the area of scanning and sharing documents in 2006
when it announced the Scan Station 100 – a system allowing office workers to
store and send information without the need of a computer interface. In 2009 it
increased its interest in this area by acquiring the document scanning division
of vendor BÖWE BELL + HOWELL (Milestones-chronology, n.d.). This expertise in
computer-free scanning translates well to the replication possibilities of 3D
printing.
Kodak has
also developed a system to protect intellectual property. It released the
TRACELESS system in 2007. The system was designed to protect against
counterfeiting. Invisible markers embedded in products such as tickets or
documents and luxury goods labels verify authenticity to Kodak readers
(Milestones-chronology, n.d.). With 3D printing allowing for replication of
virtually anything, such a system is vital to avoid falling foul of copyright legislation.
As
previously outlined, Kodak already employs many of the technologies necessary
in the 3D printing process. It can utilise its own expertise at all levels of
the printing process: the colorants, the substrates, and the printing
processes. In addition, Kodak has the ability to acquire images and the CAD
expertise to design and produce useful objects. This positions Kodak as an
end-to-end supplier.
Kodak can
take advantage of 3D printing in two very different ways:
- As system suppliers for specific parts of the process. E.g.
scanning, CAD manipulation, and/or file interpretation. Kodak is already
well placed to leverage new business from those medical, commercial, and
scientific enterprises already employing Kodak technologies.
- As a retailer of 3D printed products, creating objects for those
unwilling or unable to engage with 3D printing technologies themselves.
This builds on Kodak’s retail branding as a supplier of unique customisable
gift items. It is not necessary for Kodak to actually do the printing –
this can be out-sourced to third party providers (as canvas printing and
ceramic printing currently are).
Both
income streams fit into existing corporate structure and the company has both
the people and the processes to incorporate the new technology into the
existing business.
Positives and Negatives
On an ethical scale, third world countries dealing in black market organ trafficking will be a thing of the past, so that the value of human life cherished more, one would hope. One things for sure, patenting and copyright issues won't be an issue unless someone has unknowingly had their heart 3D scanned? On the positive, lives will be saved as organs that are compatible to the hosts genetics can be produced on demand, meat products will be incubated and grown in people's own kitchens, in turn, more animals survive, food costs will hopefully lower and many, many more benefits.
For more on 3D printed meats, visit:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/18/3d-printers-food-sustainable
http://mashable.com/2012/08/15/3d-printed-meats-may-soon-be-on-the-menu/
