Army scientists have looked into the possibility of having 3-D printed food for soldiers as they have spent decades on thinking of new ways to make food last without it being refrigerated.
According to the food technologist leading the army's Natick Research Center, Lauren Oleksyk, foods for the soldiers must withstand high-altitude airdrops and still would be okay to be eaten by the soldiers and so they have eyed food fresh from the printer.
Oleksyk pressed that they envision to have a 3-D printer that is interfaced with the soldiers. It also will have a sensor that could be delivered to the computer software as it calculates the needed potassium and cholesterol of members of the troops.
Oleksyk adds, "And then they would be able to have either powdered or liquid matrices that are very nutrient dense, that they have on demand that they can take and eat immediately to fill that need."
3-D printed food is also used by the Army to come up with equivalent food as to that of PowerBars but is said to be much personalized for those troops sent to the battlefield.
The Department of Defense has already approved the funding for the research that will soon be launched. However, it has been stated that the research will take quite a long time as 3-D printed materials needs liquids and powders to come up with the shapes of the food desired. It is also to be found out how the nutritional value of the food will be included in the outcome.
Oleksyk added that there are different types of synthetic meat and that they would look at how it can be used in the printing process so the food would still have protein. The 3-D printed food would also have to pass the taste test and other tests such as reducing the use of heat to make the food tastier is still ongoing.
3-D printed foods are expected to be ready and fully functional by the year 2025.
