SEAToday.com, Seoul - South Korean team of researchers developed a hybrid rice that utilizes cow muscle and fat cells into rice grains.

To make beef rice, the researcher used fish gelatin as a base so that the cow fat and muscle could be integrated with the hybrid rice.

This food innovation can be utilized for food supplies that are high in nutritional needs. The researchers also mentioned that the rice will be safe for consumption and even has a low risk of causing allergies. 

One of the researcher from Yonsei University, Sohyeon Park said, “I didn’t expect the cells to grow so well in the rice. Now I see a world of possibilities for this grain-based hybrid food. It could one day serve as food relief for famine, military ration or even space food,” as reported by Independent News.

The researchers also mentioned that beef rice will contain 8% more protein and 7% more fat than regular rice. And when this hybrid rice will be commercialized, it'll just cost $2.23 or around Rp. 35.000 per kg. 

Besides its higher nutritional content, beef rice can also be an innovation for sustainable and environmentally friendly food. Neil Ward, as an Agri-food and Climate Specialist and Professor of Rural and Regional Development at the University of East Anglia, explain that, “this research suggests the possibility of a hybrid rice which provides animal nutrients that involves almost eight times less greenhouse gas emissions and at less than one-sixth of the cost.”

Penulis: Annisa Salsabilla