Lab meat has already become a reality and is starting to appear on the table little by little. Instead of slaughtering animals, you can make a wide variety of meats, from entrecote to chicken breasts, without traditional farming methods. But what if the same principles could be applied to wood production? In addition to the environmental benefits, production times could be significantly reduced. After all, it can take decades for a single tree to become raw material for furniture and homes. Labs at MIT believe this is a viable alternative and have already begun the first steps to make it a reality.
this innovative technology project began when researcher Ashley Beckwith visited a farm and wondered about areas ripe for optimization. One of them, he said, was that only part of the harvested plants would be used for the production of food and materials. Was there a way to increase the forest area and improve the biodiversity of the ecosystem? The idea of a lab plant was born. Initial tests were performed with live zinnia plant cells. Experiments were completed without the need for soil or sunlight. Instead, they used liquid growth media. Cells were then transferred to gels and stimulated to generate tree-like structures. To achieve that, they used two of his plant hormones, auxin and cytokinin.
Scientists point out that plant cells can be used in a similar way to animal stem cells to alter their behavior. In this case, they experimented with different levels of hormones to enhance the production of lignin, the polymer that gives wood its consistency. The team also used their expertise in additive manufacturing and 3D printing to form this biomaterial. In this way, the gel acts as a kind of scaffold on which cells can grow. In the future, they point out, he will be able to manufacture tables and chairs in one piece, without glue or seams. It is enough to use a mold to get the desired design. In short, it’s a new paradigm.
Other sustainable materials for furniture manufacturing
The MIT research is promising, but it still has a long way to go before it becomes a scalable and economically viable technology. Another sustainable furniture-making technology being explored is based on fungal mycelium. This approach is similar to lab-grown wood, but fungi replace plant cells. Starting from the nutritious substrate, the mycelium spreads throughout the structure, giving it rigidity. Finally, heat treatment interrupts further growth.
An example of such an approach is the work of furniture designer Sebastian Cox and researcher Ninella Ivanova. The designs they developed feature lamps and stools made from a combination of mycelium and wood waste. Ivanova points out that fungi and wood often go hand in hand in nature. This initiative therefore makes it possible to combine these two materials of hers in everyday objects.
Mycelium as a raw material is also making inroads into the world of fashion. Recently, designer Stella McCartney unveiled her proposal for sustainable vegan leather made from mushrooms. The first is a two-piece bustier top and trousers that are almost indistinguishable from natural leather.
sauce: MIT, DeJean, Engadget
