Get ready to work with robots in the kitchen

Emerging new technologies are bringing deep changes in the way food is prepared, stored and disposed of.

Kitchens are the new laboratories in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Increasing mechanisation in the kitchen has seen a device or appliance for nearly every activity in the cooking space.

Emerging new technologies are now bringing deep changes in the way food is prepared, stored and disposed of. Tech in the food industry is improving quality, reducing costs and cutting waste.

The use of 3D printing for food is gaining importance across the world. US Space agency NASA has promoted concepts like 3D printed pizzas for astronauts, and in recent years several startups have brought innovative solutions with additive manufacturing technology.

Even in India, food technology is gaining traction with welcome support from the government. Thanjavur-based Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) is working on 3D printers to make food and also to convert agricultural waste into useful products.  IIFPT and the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, are being converted into institutions of national importance under a new law being passed by Parliament. The law will declare these institutes NIFTEMs.

This step will provide functional autonomy to the institute for launching relevant courses and research in food technology. Their mandate is also to work with farmers to solve their problems, such as food wastage, using emerging technologies. Agri waste like paddy husk or crop stubble can be converted into sustainable packaging materials. Food wastes in restaurants can be treated, blended and 3D-printed into purees which can form base ingredients for baking.

At one level, reduction of wastage is driving the demand for 3D printing technology in food. At another, new consumer preferences have created demand for specialised food products.

“Growing demand for personalised and customised food products is propelling demand for 3D food printing systems and system manufacturers are launching more innovative printers for products such as confectionaries, chocolates, and pancakes, and demand for these products has been increasing from commercial sectors,” says a report by Emergen Research.

The research body estimates that global 3D food printing market size is expected to cross $1 billion in 2027. “Technological advancements in 3D food printing have also resulted in development and production of more cost-effective food printers and these are being widely adopted across restaurants, and adoption is further expected to gain traction in household kitchens going ahead.”

Customised food can be created in restaurants to delight customers, but there is a more serious element to it too. Hospitals can install 3D food printers to create precision food and customised dishes for patients. Many patients need specific types of food based on their condition and the treatment they are undergoing. Health care service companies and elder care homes will be able to custom-produce food for their patients.

For urban dwellers who want to consume food untouched by human hands, robotic kitchens are being launched. With time these will be as indispensable to homeowners as washing machines and ovens. One such company is Britain’s Moley Robotic Kitchen. “The Moley Kitchen uses a combination of sensors and optical cameras to map ingredients, cookware and utensils within in the kitchen. Subtle markers on handles and pan lids help the robot orientate the stainless-steel pots, pans, and utensils. The robot’s optical system can even spot dropped food and clean up before and after cooking. An integrated UV lamp ensures the cooking area is kept germ-free,” says the company.

Several startups in India have also invested in food tech solutions for domestic needs. Chennai based RoboChef has been getting attention while others are making intelligent versions of dosa-making and roti-making machines. Be ready to work with robots in the kitchen.