Explore the environmental implications of the “next production revolution” (NPR), which “has the potential to completely change how production will be organized at the global scale…[and] will bring about important economic and social change which have important implications for policy making (OECD 2015).” This includes:
- distributed manufacturing enabled by 3-D printing
- the maker/do it yourself (DIY) movements
- the post-ownership and sharing economy
- the emerging bioeconomy
- the convergence of nano, bio, and information technologies
Cellular Agriculture: A Comparative Analysis of Press Coverage in the United States, the United Kingdom & France (2013-2018). In cellular agriculture research, development and commercialization since 2013 have transformed the prospects for the future of food production, particularly regarding animal-based agriculture. With the first cultured burger taste-tested in London in August 2013, advances in cultivating meat through cellular agriculture have grown and expanded capturing the attention of the press, the public, and investors. The potential for cultured or "clean" meat has been at the forefront of revitalizing thinking about animal agriculture and mitigating its apparent ethical and environmental consequences. This research report provides an overview and analysis of press coverage of cellular agriculture in the United States, United Kingdom, and France from August 2013 to July 2018.
Environmentalism in a Post-Ownership Society. ELI is currently looking at the energy and environmental implications of the so-called “sharing economy.” While sharing platforms such as Uber and Airbnb have grown exponentially over the past five years, relatively little research has been conducted on their impacts or opportunities for them to address environmental challenges. An article in The Environmental Forum addresses this issue, as will a soon-to-be-published workshop report. So check back soon.
The Future of Biotechnology: Dave Rejeski was part of a committee convened by the National Acadamies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to explore the future of biotechnology. The comittee's report: Future Bioltechnology Products and Opportunities to Enhance Capabilities of the Biotechnology Regulatory System is available here.
If We Can Make Meat Without Cows and Eggs Without Chickens, Would You Eat It? Imagine the future earth with 9 billion people. How will we provide enough protein to feed our population? ELI recently partnered with the non-profit New Harvest to explore public perceptions and attitudes toward the production and consumption of synthetically engineered food. The project will enable more strategic investments in agriculture research at the cellular level to develop an alternative food supply through stakeholder engagement. Curious about our findings from recent focus groups? Read Perceptions of Cellular Agriculture: Key Findings From Qualitative Research. Learn more at http://www.new-harvest.org/focus_groups
Mom, Can I Print the Dinner Plates? Additive manufacturing, better known as 3-D printing, opens up endless opportunities for prototyping and producing complex objects. But questions remain: What technologies are involved in 3D printing? How efficient are these technologies in the use of materials and energy? Does the design of printed objects reduce end-of-life options? Does more localized production reduce the carbon footprint? Will simplicity and ubiquity cause us to overprint things, just as we do with paper? Read this article from The Environmental Forum.
Is 3-D Printing A Game Changer? Watch this interview of Dave Rejeski, Director of Technology, Innovation and Environment, to learn more.
Revolutions in Making. Now that scientists are developing mindboggling new materials every year, what does it mean to be a designer and maker in the 21st century? A few thoughts about designing and making at the scale of one-billionth of a meter.