A scientist in the US has developed a pedal-powered grain crusher that can be used by people in developing countries for seed processing.

Dr. Beena Sukumaran, a civil and environmental engineering professor from Rowan University, has built an aluminum grain crusher that attaches to a bicycle, which is mounted on a stand.

As a rider pedals, the back wheel moves a contact element that turns a pulley that moves plates in the crusher to process the food from large to fine pieces suitable for cooking.

It is hoped the grain crusher will help produce food for residents of Third World countries and enable some people to generate an income as they travel from community to community, crushing foodstuff for a price.