Technology
KFC is partnering with a Russian 3D bioprinting firm to try to render lab-produced chicken nuggets
KFC is working to develop the world's first laboratory-produced chicken nugget, part of the company's "Virtual Restaurant" plan. The chicken restaurant chain will partner with the Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to create a bioprinting system that will 'print' chicken meat using chicken cells and plant material.
KFC aims to supply the bioprinting firm with products such as breading and seasoning "to create a KFC signature flavor" and to try and recreate the taste and smell of authentic chicken.
It should be noted that the bioprinting process mentioned by KFC requires animal products, any nuggets it creates will not be vegetarian. KFC will offer a vegetarian option; last year it was the first U.S. fast-food company to expand Outside Meat's plant-based chicken meal, which it plans to carry out to more of its stores this summer.
Bioprinted nuggets will be more environmentally sustainable than conventional chicken meat, says KFC, citing a report by the American Environmental Science & Technology Journal, which shows the benefits of cell meat rising, including a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption relative to traditional farming practices.
3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are now gaining popularity in food production such as meat, said Yusef Khesuani, co-founder of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, in a statement announcing the KFC partnership. In the future, the rapid progress of these technologies will enable us to make 3D-printed meat products more available and we hope that the technology produced as a result of our partnership with KFC will help to facilitate the introduction of cell-based meat products on the market.
Bioprinting in 3D is a long, laborious process. Although there have been some promising developments in its use in medicine. Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley working on the method of bioprinting human organs for transplantation noticed last year that biological materials appeared to deteriorate before the procedure was completed. Their method called for the freezing of the biological material as it was printed. Experts believe that there is still a long way to go before 3D bioprinting can create functioning organs for transplant patients.
KFC says that its bioprinted nuggets will be ready for final processing in Moscow this autumn. The announcement did not explain how the process it is researching in Russia varies from other 3D bioprinting attempts, but noted that "there are no other technologies currently on the market that will allow these complex products to be generated from animal cells." No news about when or whether printed nuggets will be currently to KFC customers to try.
