Friday, August 17, 2012
Modern Meadow Gets Funding For 3D, Printed Meat
Modern Meadow, a firm whose founders were previously co-founders of San Diego's Organovo, has scored funding to make manufactured, 3D printed meat a reality. The funding came from Breakout Labs and The Thiel Foundation, Breakout Labs said Thursday. Modern Meadow is looking to developing "high value, food grade animal protein"--including meat and hide--using 3D bioprinting technology. Modern Meadow has received a grant of $350,000 from Breakout Labs, which is part of the Thiel Foundation, and is aimed at funding "the next generation" of scientific exploration. The foundation was founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, one of the co-founders of Paypal. Technology for in-vitro meat has begun to reach reality, but the idea has been around for a long time: the 1952 science fiction novel by Frederick Pohl, "The Space Merchants", featured artificial meat as a center of its plot. Modern Meadow has described its tissue engineering technology as a way to produce meat and hides "without the need to raise, slaughter and transport livestock" and saving land, water, chemicals, and fossil fuels. Modern Meadow was founded by Gabor and Andras Forgacs. More information »