Engineer Iñigo Larrea Pioneers 3D-Printed Steak and Chicken Bacon in Spain

Industrial engineer Iñigo Larrea left a career programming aerospace and wind‑turbine machinery to join a small Navarre startup that claims it can print food in three dimensions. The company’s printers are now capable of producing 3D‑printed beef steaks, chicken bacon and other items, including meals designed for people with dysphagia. Larrea, who previously worked for Airbus‑linked firms and the turbine maker Nordex, now spends most of his day in a laboratory fine‑tuning the machines so that the printed food emerges with the correct shape and ready‑to‑eat texture. He says the shift illustrates how engineering skills are being repurposed for emerging food‑technology applications.

The venture aims to commercialise the technology for niche markets such as medical nutrition while exploring broader consumer uses. Larrea acknowledges that the concept was once unimaginable, yet his work demonstrates the growing convergence of advanced manufacturing and food production.