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Using power from solar panels to synthesize food (or at least, food components like starch). It turns out this can be done much more efficiently than photosynth
by wcoenen 4y ago
Using power from solar panels to synthesize food (or at least, food components like starch). It turns out this can be done much more efficiently than photosynthesis.
https://phys.org/news/2021-09-chinese-scientists-starch-synthesis-carbon.html https://phys.org/news/2021-09-chinese-scientists-starch-synt...
I bet this will lead to a agricultural revolution similar in magnitude to the Haber-Bosch process. It will also soften some of the impacts from climate change, both by improving food security and by allowing re-wilding of land currently used for agriculture.
It's not being talked about because people already hate the idea of "processed food" with a passion, let alone the concept of food produced without involving plants. So it will probably make a sneaky entrance via bulk stuff like starch and oils.
- tled 4y agocome on, where have you guys been last couple weeks? It's all over HN front page, search 'Solein'.
- asdff 4y agoIf its cheap it will be used, doesn't matter what people think. People hate palm oil but its in everything because it has good properties and is cheaper than alternatives.
- rewq4321 4y agoFun fact: It's also far more environmentally friendly in terms of how much land is required to produce it: https://ourworldindata.org/palm-oil https://ourworldindata.org/palm-oil
- kulikalov 4y agoAre you working in this/ related to this industry?
- wcoenen 4y agoNo, this is just my "armchair theorizing". It just makes sense to me that if food production can be done more efficiently in terms of energy and space, then it will eventually happen.