Future Developments in the Food Industry: Probable Emergence of Near Field Fermentation Conversion Centers

摘要

This paper outlines the concept of an evolving food processing technology, the system that technology will create, and the implications most significant to the FTC. While fermentation has been used in processing for thousands of years, these new, near field centers will introduce a number of fundamental changes to the technological and institutional structure of the food industry. This technology will operate as an integrated conversion process that will be a focal point of convergence across several traditional industrial boundaries, including: agriculture, food processing and manufacture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and energy. This report includes an introduction and an executive summary; a scenario of the near field fermentation conversion center in operation; implications of such a system to the FTC; and a background of the driving forces from which such a system will evolve.