A fifth of German consumers can imagine eating 3D-printed farmed meat, and a quarter see it as contributing to sustainable food production. These are the results of a representative survey of 1,002 people aged 16 and over in Germany conducted by the digital association Bitcom.
More and more people are becoming more conscious about their meat consumption. Whether it’s seitan, tofu or peas – the selection of meatless options for the pan and grill is growing. But innovative technology is also gaining importance.
According to this study, one in five people (20%) now conceivably eat meat from a 3D printer, compared to 13% four years ago. 16% said they wouldn’t have this type of food on their plate, and for 57%, eating this type of meat from a 3D printer is completely out of the question. The results closely follow another survey conducted by Ipsos, which found that a third of Germans (32%) are willing to include farmed meat in their diet.
“In particular, the use of food printers makes it possible to give products created in the lab the appearance and texture of conventional meat, while having a significantly smaller environmental footprint. Because farmed meat reduces farm land and water requirements, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and thus reduces the overall burden on the environment,” said Jana Moritz, digital farming and food tech consultant at Bitcom.
“From the use of innovative technologies in established farming systems to food technology startups: digital technologies are an important building block for making agriculture more ecological, resilient and animal-friendly, and thus opening new avenues for a more sustainable food supply overall.”
Every fourth person is already convinced of this: 24% of those surveyed agree that farmed meat can contribute to more sustainable food production. But only 12% are willing to pay more for it. In general, 11% view food from a 3D printer as a complete luxury product. 13% believe that a food printer will be an integral part of kitchen equipment in the future, alongside mixers, spatulas and scales.
More information on Bitkom studies at www.bitkom-research.de.