Food Delivery of the Future
The way we access food has changed immensely, especially in recent years. Here are some trends transforming food delivery and distribution.
Drones:
Reykjavik, Iceland has an unusual topography with two sides separated by a large bay — a layout which is a headache for food delivery services. But that’s changing now that Icelandic on-demand goods service, AHA, is starting to deliver food by drones, cutting down the time and fuel required to deliver food. Many companies have been experimenting with drones, such as Dominos which delivered a pizza by drone to a customer in Whangaparaoa, New Zealand in 2016. There has been a lot of talk around drone delivery in recent years but it will take some time to become to norm, especially in the US where there are restrictive drone laws in place limiting things like where and at what altitude drones can fly. But policy is changing with Uber recently recieving permission from the federal government to start delivering food by drone in San Diego as part of a wide reaching commercial test program.
3D printing:
3D printing is changing the way we manufacture many products, including food. A 3D food printer works in the same way as a regular 3D printer but the printing medium is powdered or liquid food instead of melted plastic. Since 3D printers follow digital instructions, they could allow consumers to print foods with customized nutritional value and some experts believe that printers that use hydrocolloids, or substances that form gels with water, could be used to replace the base ingredients of familiar dishes with renewables like algae, duckweed, and grass. Currently, most food printers are restricted to dry, shelf stable ingredients because most protein and dairy products can easily spoil. But grocery stores of the future might stock food cartridges that last years, freeing up shelf space and reducing transportation requirements.
Home Grown Produce:
Throughout most of the US, home gardeners and farmers used to be confined to a very limited growing season. But now thanks to advancements in growing technologies, it’s possible to grow all sorts of delicious produce indoors and at a reasonable cost. Many of these indoor growing systems are hydroponic which means the plants are grown in a water medium that contains all the necessary minerals and nutrients. LED lights, which are becoming increasingly affordable and efficient, serve as a replacement for sunlight. So next time you want to add a sprig of basil to your your bruschetta you might be able to just pick it fresh from your indoor garden.
