Genetically engineered meat with RFID chips grown in your kitchen to “save the planet”
Source: Daily Mail
The Cocoon, which would ‘grow’ its own meals, won the Electrolux competition
Pre-mixed food packets containing muscle cells, oxygen and nutrients, would put an end to messy and time-consuming preparation.
Cooker that ‘grows’ meat in your kitchen beats teleporting fridge and two-second clothes cleaner to win design prize
A controversial cooker that ‘grows’ meat and fish by heating animal cells in your kitchen claimed first prize in the Electrolux design competition tonight.
The invention, called Cocoon, could develop food with the make-up and nutrients of real meat.
Mr Hederstierna, 27, said: ‘This will create 100 per cent pure meat without the need for animals to be killed and with no risk of contamination. It will change everything.’
A food generator is a popular concept in science fiction programmes such as Star Trek.
Swedish industrial design student Rickard Hederstierna, 27, said it could tackle food shortages as the world’s population spirals.
And the glass cooker, which would heat pre-mixed food packets containing muscle cells, oxygen and nutrients, would put an end to messy and time-consuming preparation.
Competition panelist David Fisher, design director of consultants Seymourpowell, described the invention as ‘controversial’.
He said: ‘Dealing with controversial issues and managing them sensitively is very important. Real insight fed this idea. It deals with a problem (of food shortages) that won’t go away and we are going to have to deal with it in future.’
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Related
Interview with Rickard Hederstierna (Cocoon) Design Lab finalist 2009
Intelligent food to save the planet
“Cocoon” is a sustainable response to the world’s growing population and its desire to consume meat and fish. Similar to heating popcorn in a microwave, Cocoon prepares genetically engineered and prepackaged meat and fish dishes by heating muscle cells identified by radio frequency identification (RFID) signals. The signals detect the specific dish and then suggest the required cooking time.
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