The world's first 3D-printed Wagyu beef has been revealed by scientists, who say it has marbling 'just like the real thing' and is grown from stem cells in the lab.
Most 'cultured' meat produced so far has come out like mince rather than steak, composed of simple muscle fibres rather than more complex structures.
However, steaks - particularly from delicate Waygu beef - contain fat, muscle and blood vessels in an intricate structure producing a marbling effect, and this is what the team from Osaka University was able to replicate using 3D printing techniques.
'This work may help usher in a more sustainable future with widely available cultured meat,' that is closer to existing products, says study author Dong-Hee Kang.
The team gave no indication on eventual cost of producing the steaks or how long it would take for the product to reach the market.
Scroll down for video
The world's first 3D-printed Wagyu beef has been revealed by scientists, who say it has marbling 'just like the real thing' and is grown from stem cells in the lab
The world's population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, and with that will come an increasing demand on food, particularly for protein rich foods like beef, according to 'lab-grown wagyu' developers from Osaka University in Japan. Stock image of Wagyu beef
Wagyu can be translated as 'Japanese cow' in English, and is one of the most famous meats in the world for its high content of 'intramuscular fat' and marbling.
It is this marbling effect that provides the rich flavour that also makes it one of the most expensive steaks on the market.
However, current cattle farming techniques considered unsustainable, particularly in terms of climate change emissions, which is one thing driving increased demand for plant-based alternatives and research into cultured meat products like this.
