Wagyu: the world’s most expensive 3D printed meat

Some time ago, scientists began trying to create artificial versions of meat in order to combine solutions and alternatives to the present. Recently, a group of Japanese scientists unveiled the world’s first 3D image of wagyu meat.

Originally from Japan, wagyu meat matches the four Japanese beef cattle breeds and is considered the most expensive in the world.

A group of scientists from Osaka University produced the world's first wagyu beef in 3D. For this, according to the press release, stem cells isolated from Japanese cattle were used. The end product is a steak filled with muscle, fat and blood vessels.

Because of its marble-like appearance, favored by intramuscular fat, wagyu meat is one of the most expensive and sought after in the world. After all, it is these layers of fat that give it its characteristic flavor and texture. For these reasons, 3D printing is very difficult.

A group of scientists managed to reproduce the special qualities of wagyu meat using a special technique. The researchers used two types of cells: bovine satellites and stem cells derived from adipose tissue.

After incubating and shaping the cells into different types - the process required to create separate fibers for muscle, fat, and blood vessels - they folded them in 3D to resemble wagyu meat.

Later, scientists adapted the technique to create Japanese sweets and cut the folded material perpendicularly. In this way, they created pieces of wagyu meat. According to scientists, this method can be used to create other types of complex structures.

By improving this technology, it will be possible not only to reproduce complex meat structures, such as the excellent wagyu sashi, but also to make subtle adjustments to the fat and muscle components.

Said Michiya Matsusaki, author of a study published in Nature Communications...

While the team did not mention the price at which they would be sold and the time involved in producing the 3D printed wagyu beef steaks, the success of the experiment is certainly promising. After all, it could be a much more sustainable way to meet demand.