Steakholder Foods 3D bio-prints the world's first cultivated fish fillet

© Shlomi Arbiv

UMAMI Bioworks and Steakholder Foods Successfully Scale 3D-Printed Cultivated Fish, Poised to Expand the Seafood Market

Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks and Israel’s Steakholder Foods have completed a two-year R&D collaboration to develop a scalable process for 3D-printed cultivated fish production, funded by the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD). According to the companies, the partnership has “laid the groundwork” for producing structured cultivated fish fillets at scalable volumes using 3D printing technology and customized bio-inks, marking a significant step toward bringing these products to the market. As part of the project, a grouper fillet, claimed to be the world’s first 3D bio-printed cultivated fish fillet, was unveiled in early 2023. Building on this innovation, the companies have developed a portfolio of prototypes to showcase the versatility of 3D printing and cultivated cells in making alternatives that match the characteristics of traditional seafood. Mihir …

more

Forsea's cultivated eel

© Liran Maimon

Forsea Achieves “Record-Breaking” Cell Density in Cultivated Eel Prodution

Cultivated seafood startup Forsea Foods announces a significant tech breakthrough for producing cultivated eel at scale. The Israeli startup claims it has reached a “record-breaking” cell density of over 300 million cells/ml using minimal growth media, setting a new industry standard. “This is the highest cell density recorded in the field, moving Forsea to the forefront of cultured seafood production efficiency,” the startup said. Forsea’s cultivated seafood platform implements organoid technology to create a natural growth environment for animal cells, forming three-dimensional tissue structures (whole cuts) without scaffolding. The technology also simplifies production, enhances scalability, and reduces the need for expensive growth factors. Moria Shimoni, CTO of Forsea, comments, “The breakthrough to this level of cell density highlights the strength of our organoid technology. It’s …

more

© Happiee

HAPPIEE! Expands UK Retail Presence with Sainsbury’s & Morrisons Listings

Young brand HAPPIEE!, formed in 2022 as a subsidiary of Growthwell Foods, a leading Southeast Asian producer of meat alternatives, announces its latest milestone with new listings in two of the UK’s largest supermarket chains. Since 25 September, HAPPIEE! products have been available in 245 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. From today, 9 October, the brand will further extend its reach by launching in 327 Morrisons locations. The frozen range first landed in the UK last summer and rolled out into ASDA last December ahead of Veganuary 2024. HAPPIEE! offers alt seafood products such as Shrimpiee, Breaded Shrimpiee, Squidiee, and Calamariee. These products are designed to mimic the flavour and texture of real seafood, suitable for dishes such as stir-fries and paella. According to the …

more

Cultivated grouper fillet

Cultivated grouper fillet © UMAMI Bioworks

UMAMI Bioworks to Bring Cultivated White Fish to the UK Amid New Regulatory Landscape

UMAMI Bioworks, a startup from Singapore developing cultivated seafood technologies, announces the launch of operations in the UK, marking its first European expansion. UMAMI Bioworks has developed a platform for cultivated seafood to address the overfishing crisis with sustainable alternatives, positioning itself as a leader in the blue bioeconomy. By introducing its technology in the UK, the company aims to deliver a high-quality pipeline of cultivated seafood products, starting with white fish. The UK’s supportive regulatory framework, evidenced by the recent launch of a regulatory sandbox for cultivated proteins and reforms to streamline the regulatory process for regulated foods (which includes cultivated seafood), will allow the company to capitalize on the UK market. CEO Mihir Pershad shares, “Our decision to enter the UK market aligns …

more

umami meats' fish ball dish

© UMAMI Bioworks

UMAMI Bioworks to Establish South Korea’s First Cultivated Seafood Facility Through Strategic Partnership

UMAMI Bioworks (previously Umami Meats) continues to expand its footprint across Asia to offer sustainable solutions to the growing demand for seafood products. Today, the Singaporean company announces a strategic partnership with South Korean biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG to establish a scalable production pipeline for cultivated seafood in South Korea. The parties also intend to co-invest in a GMP-compliant hub facility to produce cultivated eel and other seafood species. The collaboration will leverage UMAMI Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology, KCell Biosciences’ competitively priced cell culture media, and WSG’s bioprocessing hardware and bioreactor systems to expedite the introduction of products. UMAMI Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad comments, “With WSG and K-Cell’s history of delivering high-quality bioprocess equipment and culture media, we will work …

more

Giulia Casarini, Sales Leader EMEA Bioprocessing equipment © SOLARIS™ BIOTECH by Donaldson

Solaris Biotech: “We are Deeply Passionate About the Alternative Protein Sector and its Transformative Potential”

In our latest interview, Giulia Casarini, Sales Leader EMEA at Solaris Biotech, discusses the evolving landscape of alternative protein production and the future of bioprocessing technology. Solaris Biotech specializes in delivering advanced technology solutions for the entire range of processes in the bioprocessing industry. Casarini offers insights into Solaris Biotech’s approach to supporting the alternative protein sector and shares her perspective on the trends shaping the industry. Can you elaborate on your unique selling proposition and how you differentiate yourselves from competitors in this space? At Solaris, we are deeply passionate about the alternative protein sector and its transformative potential for sustainability in the food industry. Our commitment to a more sustainable future drives us to collaborate with companies, research centers, and universities to pioneer …

more

Happy Ocean Foods

© Happy Ocean Foods

Future Ocean Foods Expands Membership, Welcoming 17 New Companies

Future Ocean Foods, the only global association dedicated to alternative seafood, has announced the addition of 17 new members to its growing network. The organization, which was established to promote food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and ocean conservation, now represents 53 companies across 17 countries. The new members include firms working in plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated food sectors. Marissa Bronfman, founder and executive director of Future Ocean Foods commented, “I am incredibly proud of the passionate, collaborative community we have built, and I am thrilled to welcome these 17 new innovative companies to our group. It’s an honor to work alongside so many brilliant, pioneering people working tirelessly to feed the planet and save our oceans.” Urgent need for sustainable protein sources There is …

more

Afonso-Gusmao and Diana Marques showing cultivated sea bass prototypes.

© Técnico Lisboa

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa Unveil Cultivated Sea Bass Filets 3D Printed with Microalgae Inks

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa, the School of Engineering, Technology, and Science at the University of Lisbon, have successfully produced cultivated sea bass filets using 3D bioprinting. The researchers claim their development as a world first. The first attempts produced thin sashimi slices, though current progress has led to fillets up to six centimeters thick, featuring the characteristic texture of sea bass as well as its aroma due to the microalgae-based bioinks used for bioprinting, explains Técnico Lisboa. The research in fish cultivation began in 2019 as part of a project for the Entrepreneurship curricular unit that aimed to develop fish for sushi. Since then, the research has continued in the laboratory of the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), and the team has grown from four …

more

AQUA Cultured Foods

© AQUA Cultured Foods

AQUA Cultured Foods’ Fermented Fish-Free Seafood Receives GRAS Allowing Sale in US

Chicago-based alternative protein company AQUA Cultured Foods has announced that its fish-free seafood, created through fermentation, has been deemed safe for human consumption. The company’s cellulose-based products have been self-affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) following a review by an independent panel of scientific and toxicology experts. This GRAS status allows AQUA Cultured Foods to sell its products in the United States. Cellulose-based alt seafood AQUA’s fish-free seafood, which includes tuna and scallops, is primarily composed of cellulose grown through biomass fermentation. This method allows the products to closely replicate the texture and appearance of traditional seafood. The company’s offerings are clean-label, consisting of minimal ingredients. AQUA’s scallops are made from water, cellulose, and plant-derived flavors designed to mimic the oceanic notes of real …

more

Students from the University of Waterloo in Canada, have received over $700,000 in grants to expand their AI-based research in advancing cultivated seafood.

© Von Firn - stock.adobe.com

University of Waterloo Students Secure $700,000 to Revolutionize Cultivated Seafood with AI

Kevin Shen and Rikard Saqe, students from the Faculties of Science and Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in Canada, have received over $700,000 in grants from Good Food Institute (GFI), Mitacs, and New Harvest to expand their research in advancing cultivated seafood with AI. The research goals, formulated within the Waterloo Alt Protein Project design team, a global network of over 60 student-led organizations supported by the GFI, aim to establish the large-scale production of cultivated seafood, specifically fish. Using AI, the researchers will predict and enhance cell behavior and create detailed genomic and proteomic profiles. Additionally, they will employ multi-omics technologies and use single-cell RNA sequencing to gain insights into the cellular makeup of fish. The collected data will be used to develop …

more

Dr. Cornelius Lahme of BLUU GmbH

Dr. Cornelius Lahme © BLUU GmbH

Bluu Seafood: “The Technology Behind Cellular Agriculture is Still Too Abstract for Many Consumers. We Have to Take People With Us”

Bluu Seafood specialises in cultured fish. Fish fingers, fish balls and caviar have already been produced from the cells of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. The startup emerged from the Lübeck-based Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology and Cell Technology (EMB), where co-founder Dr Sebastian Rakers was also employed for many years. Together with entrepreneur Simon Fabich, the cell and marine biologist founded Bluu Seafood (then known as Bluu Biosciences). A pilot plant has been in operation in Hamburg since 2024. Bluu Seafood has applied for authorisation for its products in Singapore and the USA. Dr Cornelius Lahme, responsible for marketing and communication at Bluu Seafood, talks to us in an interview about why the cultivation of fish is so important, what exactly the division …

more

Cultivated seafood startup Umami Bioworks and India’s IKP Knowledge Park, a premium Science Park and Incubator India, have announced a partnership to accelerate the production of cultivated seafood.

© IKP Knowledge Park

Cultivated Seafood Pioneer UMAMI Bioworks Sets Foot in India with IKP Partnership

Cultivated seafood startup UMAMI Bioworks, (previously Umami Meats) has announced a partnership with India’s premium Science Park and Incubator, IKP Knowledge Park, to accelerate the production of cultivated seafood. IKP has recently established the Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation in Bangalore, which facilitates core R&D, innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange for the smart protein sector. At the centre, UMAMI Bioworks’ team in India will lead the engineering and validation of the company’s plug-and-play manufacturing hardware, supporting tech transfer from their demonstration line to customer sites. Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and CEO of IKP Knowledge Park, welcomed UMAMI Bioworks and expressed excitement about the novel technology platform it brings to the smart protein ecosystem. She shared, “This collaboration will not only accelerate Umami’s growth …

more

Following the successful creation of a cultivated eel prototype claimed as the world’s first, Israel's Forsea Foods debuted the product at its first official tasting at Restaurant "a" in Tel Aviv.

© Liran Maimon

40 Guests Taste Forsea’s Cultivated Eel at Official Tasting: “Feedback was Uplifting”

Following the successful creation of a cultivated eel prototype claimed as a world first, Israel’s Forsea Foods announces it has recently debuted the product at its first official tasting at restaurant “a” in Tel Aviv. According to the announcement, more than 40 guests had the opportunity to taste Forsea’s cultivated eel fillets in various dishes. The menu’s centerpiece was Unagi kabayaki, a Japanese specialty of grilled fresh eel on a bed of aromatic rice (featured image). Roee Nir, CEO and co-founder of Forsea, shares, “Since the start of the year, we have made significant advancements in improving our cell lines. We also have been working diligently to enhance our recipes. This event was a great opportunity for us to present our unprecedented achievements to partners and …

more

South Korea’s plant-based foods producer Pulmuone has signed a business agreement with with ABB Korea Robotics, a leading company in automation and robotics to develop cultivated fish technologies.

© Pulmuone

Pulmuone Announces New Collab to Streamline Cultivated Seafood Using AI Robotics

South Korean plant-based foods producer Pulmuone has signed a business agreement with ABB Korea Robotics, the local corporation of Switzerland’s ABB, to develop cultivated seafood. The collaboration aims to automate the cultivation process for seafood using ABB’s robotics technology, with a target of mass-producing cultivated seafood products by 2026. According to the announcement, the companies hope to spearhead research and development in AI robotics for cellular agriculture. At the same time, Pulmuone expects this partnership to be the world’s first to apply AI robotic automation to cultivated meat production. Both companies will focus on several areas, including the robotic automation of the seafood cell cultivation process, enhancing production efficiency, protecting intellectual property, sharing research facilities and equipment, and exchanging specialized personnel. Key representatives from both …

more

Wanda Fish tuna sashimi

Image credit Noam Preisman

Wanda Fish Unveils its First Cultivated Bluefin Tuna Product: Toro Sashimi

Israeli cultivated seafood startup Wanda Fish announces that it has successfully developed its first cultivated bluefin tuna prototype: toro sashimi. Wanda Fish claims that its whole cut, crafted from the muscle and fat cells of bluefin tuna, offers the same sensory features and a comparable protein and omega-3 fatty acids ratio to the wild fish’s fatty underbelly (called toro in Japanese gastronomy). The company says it enlisted skilled chefs to demonstrate the culinary possibilities of its cultivated bluefin tuna as an alternative to raw toro in sashimi. Daphna Heffetz, co-founder and CEO of Wanda Fish, shares, “A key focus in the creation of our product was achieving the same level of fat marbling as real Bluefin toro sashimi to create the same look and mouthfeel.” Malkiel Cohen, VP of …

more

Sandhya Sriram on Future of Foods podcast

© Future of Foods

Future of Foods Podcast: Sandhya Sriram, Co-Founder, Shiok Meats

Alex Crisp of the Future of Foods podcast here interviews Sandhya Sriram, co-founder of Shiok Meats. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Singapore, Shiok Meats specializes in cell-cultivated shrimp, crab, and lobster, aiming to address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with traditional seafood harvesting. In March of this year, it was announced that Shiok has merged with UMAMI Bioworks, also of Singapore, to establish a combined entity that will bring cultivated seafood closer to commercial viability. In the full podcast, they discuss: regulatory approvals for cultivated meat; promotion of meat-free events; political dynamics and meat consumption; challenges for politicians and entrepreneurs; supportive environment in Singapore; business strategy and government support; resistance from traditional farmers; and collaboration between traditional and cultivated meat producers. This is …

more

Doug Grant, CEO of Atlantic Fish Co

CEO Doug Grant © Atlantic Fish Co

Atlantic Fish Co: “We Want to Have Our Products in Restaurants All Over the United States and Beyond”

Based in North Carolina, Atlantic Fish Co has developed a proprietary technology to cultivate fish cells that can thrive in liquid suspension, focusing on high-performing cell lines of wild-caught species, such as halibut and sea bass, and using genetic engineering technology to grow the cells in bioreactors and providing them with nutrients for growth. Founded in 2020, the Atlantic Fish Co. recently unveiled what it claims is the world’s first cultivated black sea bass product, during a tasting at the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab. Speaking at the time, Doug Grant, CEO of Atlantic Fish Co. stated: “Developing the world’s first cultivated black sea bass is a win for our company and consumers who want sustainable, ethical seafood. We will provide seafood that is also …

more

A photo of a fished Atlantic salmon

© BLUU Seafood - Anna Brauns

BLUU Seafood Expands Cultivated Fish Production in Preparation for Market Entry, Predicts Price Parity With Fish Within 3 Years

Europe’s largest cultivated seafood biotech, the German startup BLUU Seafood, announces that it has officially inaugurated its first pilot plant in Hamburg-Altona.   The new facility boasts 2,000 m2 of space dedicated to research, production, and office use for its 35 employees. It includes state-of-the-art cell and molecular biology labs, process development areas, and a test kitchen for food applications. At the new plant, the company will initially operate 65 L bioreactors, with the potential to expand to 2,000 L to scale to industrial production as it prepares for market entry. The startup initially operated on a small scale in a laboratory setting in Lübeck, using stem-cell technology to establish GMO-free fish cell lines to grow muscle, fat, and connective tissue from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout …

more

Atlantic Food Co

Courtesy of Atlantic Food Co

Atlantic Fish Co. Unveils the “World’s First” Cultivated Black Sea Bass Prototype

Cultivated seafood startup Atlantic Fish Co. has developed what it claims to be the world’s first cultivated black sea bass product. To share their milestone with the world, the team at Atlantic Fish Co. recently held a tasting at the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab (featured image) of its hybrid “bass bite.” The cultivated black seabass prototype marks a significant step forward in the company’s mission of producing sustainable seafood products using cell culture techniques.  Doug Grant, CEO of Atlantic Fish Co. shared: “Developing the world’s first cultivated black sea bass is a win for our company and consumers who want sustainable, ethical seafood. We will provide seafood that is also free of mercury, antibiotics, or microplastics.” Sustainable protein products Starting its journey in 2020, the Atlantic …

more

EFISHient Protein, announces that it has achieved a significant milestone with the successful development of the Tilapia cell line.

Courtesy of EFISHient Protein, image credit Roee Shpernik

EFISHient Protein Achieves Milestone in Tilapia Cell Line Development

Israel’s leading cultivated fish startup, EFISHient Protein, announces that it has achieved a significant milestone with the successful development of the cell line of the water fish Tilapia. EFISHient Protein says that it is establishing a genetic cell bank by leveraging its advanced technology to produce muscle and fat cells of the sought-after fish. This achievement in cell line development comes after the successful creation of a cultivated tilapia fillet prototype, which was achieved ahead of schedule last year. According to the company, both achievements highlight its dedication and support for an environmentally friendly fish industry on a global scale. Dana Levin, CEO of EFISHient Protein, shared, “Completing the Tilapia cell line development showcases our dedication to accelerating sustainable protein solutions, ensuring future generations can enjoy nutritious and …

more