Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Austin Firm Gets Funding For 3D, Printable Food

In the future, will food come out of a machine, printed just like you print your documents? It might be, if an Austin company's technology advances. NASA said Thursday that it has provided funding to Austin's Systems and Materials Research Corp., which is developing a 3D printer which--instead of plastic or metal parts and prototyped mechanical items--prints edible food. NASA is funding the company for a possible mission to Mars, but Systems and Materials Research's technology could possibly make it to the commercial market. The idea is that SMRC can use powered ingredients -- protein, carbohydrates, and other raw materials--and "print" them in 3D layers into food following a recipe in a computer. NASA is providing $125,000 to the company.