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0 pointswcoenen3y ago0 comments

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-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.

0 comments

asdff3y ago

If 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.

rewq43213y ago

Fun fact: It's also far more environmentally friendly in terms of how much land is required to produce it: https://ourworldindata.org/palm-oil

tled3y ago

come on, where have you guys been last couple weeks? It's all over HN front page, search 'Solein'.

kulikalov3y ago

Are you working in this/ related to this industry?

wcoenenOP3y ago

No, 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.

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