According to forecasts of researchers from the University of Minnesota (USA), by 2050 the world's population will grow to 9.6 billion people and the world will begin to experience a massive food shortage.
One way or another, we will have to change our eating habits, and very significantly. What now seems wild and extreme, in 30 years, may become the norm.
Artificial meat
The first piece of beef, 140 grams, synthesized from stem cells, was obtained in 2013 in the laboratory of Professor Mark Post from the University of Maastricht (Netherlands). But alas, the volunteers entrusted with the synthetic meat tasting did not give the product very high marks.
So the scientists continued their work. Today, a kilogram of artificial meat costs about $ 80, which is significantly cheaper than three years ago. The full-fledged product is expected to hit store shelves within the next decade.
Mark Post believes that many people will buy "meat from a test tube" at least for ethical reasons, because it keeps real animals alive.
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Vegetable egg powder
This powder with the appropriate flavor can be used to prepare various dishes. It is the development of a team of American biochemists.
Their semi-finished product Beyond Eggs hit the U. S. market back in 2013. For the preparation of the powder, 12 plants were used, among which, in particular, peas and sorghum. In its composition, you will not find traces of antibiotics or salmonella, as in natural eggs. There is no cholesterol in it either.
This powder is most popular among vegetarians. However, according to project leader Josh Tetrick, in the future, animal products will become too expensive for ordinary people, and sooner or later there will be a need for cheaper substitutes. Already today this may be relevant for third world countries.
A variety of protein powder - food for those looking to build muscle
Edible jellyfish
In fact, seafood has always been considered food. But eating jellyfish in European countries is still exotic. But in Asia they have been eaten for a long time and are called crystal meat.
Meanwhile, the population of jellyfish has already grown greatly and is damaging ships and the environment. Therefore, there seems to be no pity for them. By the way, they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals useful to our body, as well as protein. And there are not so many calories in them.
Powder cocktails
In 2013, American programmer Rob Rhinehart came up with a cocktail called Soylent. The powder, which contains the amount of nutrients the body needs - fats, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids and vitamins - is enough to simply dilute with water before use.
One portion of such food will cost the consumer only 2.5 dollars, and a person will feel full for 5-6 hours. Soylent does not promote weight gain and is harmless to health.
Rhinehart himself, for experimental purposes, ate a whole month exclusively on a cocktail of his own production. As a result, he got rid of those extra pounds, and Rob's health improved significantly.
Another type of nutritious cocktail is called Ambronite. Featuring crushed apples, berries and nuts, this organic drink is perfect for those on a vegetarian diet.
However, skeptics argue that this way of eating is only suitable for low-income people who cannot afford to spend a lot on food. Well, or those who are in too much of a hurry, who have no time to have breakfast or dinner.
Products from the printer
You've probably heard that today with 30 printers you can print almost anything. This also applies to food products. The first sample of a 3D printer designed for printing products was presented by American engineer Anyang Contractor.
The device contains nutrient cartridges that have a shelf life of at least one month, so the chances of getting spoiled food are very low.
And one of the New York companies is trying to print meat products on a printer. The head of the company Andras Forgex suggests that they will start with pies and semi-finished products from minced meat, and then move on to making more complex products such as steaks.
Who knows, maybe someone will really find it more convenient to print food than to cook it. First of all, such printers are likely to be in demand in catering establishments.
Chewing gum lunch
A similar invention is mentioned in the novel by Roald Dahl "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The person chewing this gum gives the impression that they have eaten a full three course meal.
In 2010, Dave Hart of the Norwich Institute for Food Research (UK) began developing a chewing gum that incorporates microcapsules that taste like certain foods. When the gum enters the mouth, the capsules burst from contact with saliva and the person feels the corresponding taste.
In this case, one piece of gum contains capsules with the taste of the first, second and third courses, for example, hot soup, roast and dessert. Everything is arranged in such a way that the capsule with the soup is destroyed first, followed by the second, and at the end - with the sweet …
The soup capsule is soft and the other two are quite hard, and you must chew vigorously to make them burst and release their contents. By the way, so that different tastes do not mix in the mouth, the layers of gum are interlaced with gelatin.
Nourishing patch
Back in the mid-2000s, the US Department of Defense launched a project for a special transdermal patch capable of supplying a set of essential nutrients and vitamins.
It is assumed that bioactive substances will be absorbed through the pores, and then, through the circulatory system, spread throughout the body.
But that's not all! A chip will be built into the patch, signaling the degree of satiety of the eater, and if he is not full, the device will dispense an additive.
True, such plasters are unlikely to receive mass distribution. First of all, they will be intended for the military, astronauts, miners and representatives of other professions who have to work in dangerous or specific conditions. According to project leader Dr. Patrick Dunn, the first samples of the miracle patch will be presented around 2025.
Steam as food
How can you inhale food? In 2011, this method was proposed by a biomedicine specialist, professor at Harvard University David Edwards. He developed a device called Le Whaf, capable of producing something like an edible mist.
The basis for such food is a special concentrated liquid substance that can have any taste - say, tomato soup or chocolate cake. It is placed in a glass container inside the apparatus, after which it is exposed to ultrasound.
As a result, the concentrate turns into the smallest suspension that hangs in the air in the form of steam. This can be done with drinks, such as alcohol. To get a taste, you need to take a glass tube and inhale from it.
Edwards was assisted in the work on the invention by the famous French experimental chef Thierry Marx, who has such culinary masterpieces as liquid Lorraine pie and meringues in nitrogen on his account.
Fecal water
Do not rush to spit and frown. The idea is quite real and will not pollute your body in any way. By the way, its author is none other than the famous Bill Gates, who at one time invested in the Omni Processor project for the processing of feces.
A pilot version of a plant that converts excrement into electricity and drinking water was launched last year in Dakar, Senegal, where a third of the population does not have access to sanitation.
Feces are conveyed to a large tank, where they undergo a cleaning process: first, water is evaporated from them, then recycled.
According to Bill Gates, he personally tasted the water obtained through the processing of human waste products: it turned out to be pure and tasty. After all, we eat fruits and vegetables grown on manure, so why not drink water obtained in a similar way?
Bon Appetit!
Ida SHAKHOVSKAYA