The Emergence of 3D Printing Technology in the Plant-Based Food Sector

Commonly used in the healthcare sector to construct artificial limbs and in the automotive industry to manufacture parts, 3D printing refers to a process that creates physical objects from a digital blueprint by laying down thin layers of material and fusing them together. 

In 2020, Givaudan, a global leader in flavours and fragrances, partnered with Redefine Meat, a food-tech startup based in Israel, to develop the world’s first Alt-Steak™ by combining artificial intelligence and 3D printing technology. Recognizing the increasing demand for alternative, plant-based protein, Givaudan used its revolutionary capabilities in flavour and taste to ensure the Alt-Steak™ product precisely replicates the flavours, aromas and experience of animal-derived meat. The partnership allowed Redefine Meat to create a patented 3D printer that layers three materials (Alt-MuscleTM, Alt-FatTM, and Alt-BloodTM) made entirely from plant-based ingredients to create products that “look, taste, and feel like the muscle, fat and blood of a typical cut of meat – without slaughtering cows or other animals.” Shortly after launching in Israel, Redefine Meat expanded across Europe. However, endless innovation opportunities in North America’s plant-based food sector remain, and as Jennifer Bartashus, Senior Consumer Staples Analyst at BI, claims: “food-related consumer habits often come and go as fads, but plant-based alternatives are here to stay – and grow.”