While writing my previous blog post on 3d printing, I chanced upon a TED blog post that discussed its implications in food production. Despite the extremely high-cost that is currently required to 3d-print food, $330,000 for the world’s first lab-grown beefburger. I believe if this technology is perfected, it could revolutionize the food industry.

The blog discussed the implications 3d printed meat would have on vegetarians and on religious dietary rules. Due to my parents being freethinkers, I never had to deal with religious restrictions on my diet. Therefore i always found it interesting when my Hindu and Muslim friends abstained from certain meats. Would 3d printing circumvent their religious restrictions? And if so this could open a whole market for food producers in for example India where the country’s culture is deeply rooted in religion.

In this blog, the discussions were focused mainly on the opinions of vegetarians. Many considered that 3d printed meat which left animals unharmed were a much better option than factory farming and i agree with them. While i personally will not be giving up meat anytime soon, i feel that the living conditions suffered by animals in factory farming are absolutely horrific. Hopefully, 3d printing will one day be the solution to animal abuse in factory farming.

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-animals-and-factory-farms

http://blog.ted.com/2013/09/19/would-you-eat-3d-printed-meat-7-vegetarians-and-vegans-reflect/