Prosumer-Driven 3D Food Printing : Role of Digital Platforms in Future 3D Food Printing Systems

Digital platforms have become an integral part of user-experience innovation in a short period of time. When coupled with innovative production technologies like 3D printing, these platforms facilitate prosumption, i.e., production activities carried-out by the consumers. Prosumption is very much anticipated in the food sector, especially after the emergence of 3D food printing technology. The goal of this chapter is to create an understanding on how digital platforms could work together with future 3D food printing systems to foster food prosumption. An extensive literature review was carried out for comprehending the concept of prosumption and the state of the art of 3D food printing. After the literature review, 15 semi-structured interviews were carried-out in 4 countries, with experts from both academia and industry. These interviews have helped in creating knowledge on the change drivers for prosumer driven 3D food printing, nature of the prosumer platform, future of food, and the potential use-cases for prosumer driven 3D food printing systems. Overall, the qualitative research data implies that leveraging 3D food printing technology and digital platforms would generate value chains that are transparent, data-driven, connected, collaborative, and sustainable.