KFC to 3D Bioprint Chicken Nuggets Soon

Restaurant chain KFC revealed a collaboration with Russian 3D Bioprinting Solutions to create chicken meat in what it calls an innovative concept of creating a "restaurant of the future." KFC aims to develop the world's first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets. 

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It should be noted that the nuggets will indeed technically have chicken meat so they are not vegetarian. However, KFC says the new method will be healthier and more environmentally friendly.

"3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are nowadays gaining popularity in producing foods such as meat. In the future, the rapid development of such technologies will allow us to make 3D-printed meat products more accessible and we are hoping that the technology created as a result of our cooperation with KFC will help accelerate the launch of cell-based meat products on the market", said Yusef Khesuani, co-founder and Managing Partner of 3D Bioprinting Solutions. 

The new technology would use chicken cells and plant material, that would allow it to mimic the taste and texture of chicken meat almost without involving any animals in the process. KFC further noted that no other methods exist that could produce such products from animal cells.

Bioprinting will allow KFC to exclude the various additives that are used in traditional farming and animal husbandry. This will result in a cleaner final product. These products are also more ethical as they do not harm any animals. 

KFC also cited a study by the American Environmental Science & Technology Journal that found that the technology of growing meat from cells is significantly more environmentally friendly than conventional farm-based meat production. The technology sees energy consumption cut by more than half, greenhouse gas emissions reduced 25 fold and 100 times less land used than traditional meat production.