Although scientists have dissected almost every element of our diet, many of us still feel at sea when it comes to diet. Even when sticking to official advice, healthy foods that seem to energize one person can cause another to feel fatigued and bloated. In ten years’ time, the food you eat may not be based on some official guidelines. Rather, the food you eat in 2028 could be modified by genetics and biomolecular science to fit your needs perfectly – engineered so that they have much more nutrition and vitamins.
It sounds controversial, but just last year, researchers from Australia showcased a banana with high levels of provitamin A, an important nutrient not normally present in the fruit. To create this fruit, the researchers snipped out genes from a specific type of Papua New Guinean banana that’s naturally high in provitamin A, then inserted them into the common banana variety. The result was a golden banana that had far higher levels of provitamin A.
Over the next ten years, the number of nutritionally enhanced crops will probably explode. Precise DNA-editing technology – namely a technique called CRISPR-Cas9 – now allows alteration of plant genetic code with unprecedented accuracy. These aren’t the only predictions for food in 2028. Some expect we will have customized diets, outlandish vegetables, robot chefs, and healthy junk food. Curious about what we’ll eat in 2028? Take a look right here.
