BlueNalu News - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud of KBW Ventures and Lou Cooperhouse, Founder, President and CEO of BlueNalu

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud of KBW Ventures and Lou Cooperhouse, Founder, President and CEO of BlueNalu © BlueNalu

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Joins BlueNalu’s Corporate Advisory Board

December 7, 2023

San Diego cellular aquaculture company BlueNalu announced the addition of Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud to its corporate advisory board during COP 28. According to BlueNalu, the Prince’s commitment to sustainable development, food safety and resilience, and the humane treatment of animals aligns with the company’s mission to provide healthy, humane and regenerative seafood to meet the world’s growing demand. Prince Khaled, CEO of KBW Ventures, has invested in BlueNalu’s funding rounds over the past five years, its most recent being a Series B round this October which raised $33.5 million to scale production of cultivated toro (the high-value portion of bluefin tuna) and demonstrate the technological capabilities of its platform to create whole-muscle seafood products. Seafood is a crucial protein source …

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BlueNalu toro

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BlueNalu and NEOM Sign MoU to Advance Cell-Cultured Seafood

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023

NEOM, a sustainable regional development initiative in northwest Saudi Arabia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cell-cultured seafood developer BlueNalu. The partnership seeks to advance the commercialization, marketing, and distribution of BlueNalu’s cell-cultured seafood offerings, aligning with their shared objectives of enhancing food security and promoting access to nutritious food options for global communities. Key objectives outlined in the MoU include: Extending support for establishing an incubation and food innovation ecosystem within Saudi Arabia. Conducting public education and consumer research. Fostering engagement with regulatory bodies to facilitate the approval and sale of novel food products. The formation of this partnership comes on the heels of NEOM’s investment of $20 million into BlueNalu as part of a Series B funding round last month aimed …

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US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has raised $33.5 million to scale its cultivated toro platform.

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Investments & Finance

BlueNalu Secures $33.5M to Expand Cultivated Toro Platform Ahead of Launch

October 14, 2023October 13, 2023

US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has raised $33.5 million from new and existing investors in a Series B round, announces Agronomics, the UK’s leading biotech VC with a strong portfolio of cell ag companies, including BlueNalu. The new funds will allow BlueNalu to scale the production of cultivated toro (the high-value portion of bluefin tuna) and demonstrate the technological capabilities of its platform to create whole-muscle products. BlueNalu is based in San Diego, California, where it operates a 40,000-square-foot pilot facility producing small batches and carrying out market testing and research insights in food service settings across the USA. The announced plan is to scale the current production further and prepare to launch, following regulatory approval, its first commercial product (toro). BlueNalu raised $60 million in debt financing …

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Clextral’s innovative developments in producing affordable and tasty alternative proteins

a piece of cultivated tuna

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BlueNalu Strengthens Deals with APAC Seafood Leaders to Introduce Cultivated Bluefin Tuna in Asian Markets

October 4, 2023

US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has announced extended and improved partnerships with three prominent seafood APAC industry leaders: Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, South Korea’s Pulmuone Co. Ltd., and Thai Union. The expanded collaborations include independent Memorandums of Understanding with each company to support BlueNalu in developing market strategies to launch its sustainable cultivated bluefin tuna in the region over the coming years. The strategic partners will support the biotech in three areas including market research on consumer preferences, emerging trends, and evolving market dynamics. It will also help expedite the approval process of regulatory requirements and support market entry, distribution, and supply chain management strategies to introduce BlueNalu’s products to consumers, food service, and retailers across the APAC region. Lou Cooperhouse, president and CEO of BlueNalu, shared: “We are …

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BlueNalu's cultivated seafood

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Cultivated Seafood

BlueNalu & Nutreco Join Forces to Create Cell Feed Supply Chain for Cultivated Seafood

March 14, 2023

US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Nutreco, a global leader in animal nutrition and aquafeed, to establish and scale up a food-grade, cell feed supply chain for cultivated seafood manufacturing. “At Nutreco, it is our purpose to feed the growing global population in a safe and sustainable way, and we understand the important role cell-cultured proteins can play in addressing this global challenge,” said Joost Matthijssen, CSO at Nutreco. From pharma to food-grade ingredients The agreed collaboration includes an initial phase in which BlueNalu and Nutreco will join forces to reduce cell feed costs. Nutreco will focus on developing its food-grade supply chain infrastructure parallel to BlueNalu’s production phases, which involve goals from pilot-scale development to regulatory stages and …

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alternative protein market company Upside Foods serves a cultivated chicken burger

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Global Cultured Meat Markets Report – By 2040, a Projected 60% of Meat will be Created from Cells Grown Within Bioreactors and Sold Across Grocery Stores and Restaurants Worldwide

June 21, 2023November 25, 2022

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “The Global Market for Cultured Meat – Market Size, Trends, Competitors, and Forecasts (2022)” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. By 2040, a projected 60% of the meat will be created from cells grown within bioreactors and sold across grocery stores and restaurants worldwide. The rise of the cultured meat market will be supported by the sustainability of the process, as well as the industry’s ability to provide “tailor-made nutrition” through its meat and seafood products. Recent surveys indicate that nearly 50% of the consumers do not have any reservations about cultured meat. Over the next 10 to 20 years, the cultured meat market is projected to act as a major disruptor to the conventional meat market. The number of startups focused …

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bluenalu's new members of its scientific advisory board

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BlueNalu Announces Scientific Advisory Board of Multidisciplinary Experts

October 27, 2022

Cultivated seafood pioneer BlueNalu announces a new scientific advisory board (SAB), formed by multidisciplinary experts to support the company’s coming scale-up and consumer product development. The SAB will work with BlueNalu’s senior leadership to provide strategic guidance and solutions to accelerate the large-scale commercialization plans of BlueNalu’s cell-cultured seafood. BlueNalu says it has developed a robust pipeline of seafood products from a wide array of species and plans to launch its first commercial product, premium bluefin tuna toro, following regulatory approval in the US. The company has plans to bring its products to Europe through Nomad Foods, and recently announced a partnership with Japan’s largest sushi operator to supply its cultivated tuna. BlueNalu claims to have developed two new technologies that unlock the profitability and scalability …

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Close up of BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-cultured yellowtail, beer-battered and deep-fried for fish tacos

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

BlueNalu Says Breakthrough Tech ‘Cracks the Code’ to Significantly Scale Alt Seafood Production

October 5, 2022

Cultivated seafood company BlueNalu announces two new technologies it says unlock the path to significant profitability and scalability of its cell-cultured seafood. By utilizing breakthrough single-cell suspension and lipid-loading techniques, the startup says it can achieve 75% gross margins in its first year of production, and cultivate up to 6M pounds of premium seafood annually, beginning with Bluefin Tuna Toro. While many cultivated meat and seafood companies employ “adherent” techniques that attach growing cells to microcarriers, BlueNalu says it has developed non-GMO cell lines in single cell suspension, meaning large numbers of cells can freely grow in bioreactors without the need for costly microcarriers. In addition, BlueNalu reveals its patent-pending lipid-loading technology allows cultivated muscle cells to actively store fat, eliminating the need to grow …

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Omakaseed Vegan Sushi

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Food & Beverage

Omakaseed at Plant Bar Bringing Exclusive Vegan Sushi Experience to NYC

April 21, 2022

Omakaseed at Plant Bar, a new plant-based sushi concept, will open on April 30 to bring innovative vegan sushi to NYC’s NoMad neighborhood. Created by the team behind the successful Sushi by Bou restaurant brand, Omakaseed will offer intimate omakase-style dining, where all of the meal’s dishes are specially selected by the chef. “Transforming vegan sushi” Omakaseed is being launched as a joint partnership by NYC bistro Plant Bar, hospitality agency SimpleVenue and the Vegan Warrior Project, an organization that connects restaurant kitchens to plant-based delivery concepts. Led by Michelin-starred chef Roberto Romero, the seasonal sushi menu will feature plant-based Japanese-inspired dishes like Watermelon Tuna with Pickled Kelp, Vegan Nigiri, and Sunomo Style Pulled Oyster Mushroom Salad. “Each omakase course will incorporate eclectic global flavors,” …

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Thai Union OMG Meat

OMG Meat ©Thai Union

Investments & Finance

Thai Union’s $30M Venture Fund and $9M Innovation Center Will Usher in Tuna Giant ‘s Alt Protein Future

January 31, 2022

Thai Union Group – one of the biggest producers of tuna in the world – has set up a Global Innovation Center in Thailand to create an alt protein future for the multinational company. Based in Bangkok, the $9 million facility employs over 100 food scientists and engineers working on alt meat and seafood. As well as the new Global Innovation Center, Thai Union has also partnered with several companies through a venture fund aimed at the production of cell cultivated seafood. The $30 million fund has seen agreements with companies including US cultivated seafood leader BlueNalu and Israeli cultivated meat pioneer Aleph Farms. Pursuing both plant-based as well as cellular agriculture innovation, Thai Union’s alt protein strategy includes its OMG Meat brand, launched in …

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BlueNalu fish tacos

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BlueNalu Partners With Japan’s Largest Sushi Operator FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES to Supply Cultured Tuna

February 25, 2022January 26, 2022

Multinational foodservice company FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES (F&LC) announces a new partnership with cultured seafood startup BlueNalu to develop a supply chain for bluefin tuna and other sushi-grade seafood. The two companies plan to work together on product development and marketing, as well as supporting a regulatory framework for cell-based seafood production in Japan. Based in Osaka, F&LC owns the largest number of sushi restaurants in Japan, and operates more than 1,000 restaurants across Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and mainland China. San Diego-based BlueNalu is the world’s most funded cultured seafood company, having raised over $80 million to create tuna and other fish species directly from cultivated cells. With the latest deal, BlueNalu now has partnerships with three of the world’s top ten …

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BlueNalu Recruits Mary K. Wagner Former Exec of Starbucks, Mars & General Mills

February 25, 2022January 5, 2022

BlueNalu recruits Mary K. Wagner, a senior food executive previously serving at Starbucks, Mars, Gallo Winery, Yum! Brands and General Mills, and past president of the Institute of Food Technologists, as its first independent board member.

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Lou Cooperhouse, CEO

Lou Cooperhouse, ©BlueNalu

BlueNalu: “The World Needs a New Solution. BlueNalu Provides That New Solution”

September 16, 2021September 14, 2021

While giants in cell-based meat are securing higher and higher raises – Mosa Meats receiving $85M, Aleph Farms $105, and Memphis Meats as much as $161. BlueNalu’s impressive $60 million raise this January makes it the most funded company in cell-based seafood, or cellular aquaculture, in which it is the clear global leader. As we reported Monday, in a landmark move, BlueNalu announced an agreement with Europe’s leading frozen foods supplier, Nomad Foods, marking the first agreement in Europe between a CPG company and a cell-cultured seafood company. Pending regulatory approval, this signifies the upcoming arrival of cell-based seafood in Europe, the continent which imports the most conventional seafood than any other in the world. We were delighted to finally speak with CEO Lou Cooperhouse on these …

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BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-cultured yellowtail prepared in a poke bowl

Whole-muscle, cell-cultured yellowtail ©BlueNalu

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

BlueNalu’s Agreement to Bring Cell-Based Seafood to Europe: The GFI Responds

September 13, 2021

As we reported earlier today, Cellular aquaculture specialist BlueNalu has announced an agreement with Europe’s leading frozen foods supplier, Nomad Foods, in the first-ever agreement in Europe between a CPG company and a cell-cultured seafood company. “This is a huge moment for the future of our oceans.” In light of this landmark in the progress and development of alternative seafood, Carlotte Lucas, corporate engagement manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said to vegconomist today: “This is a huge moment for the future of our oceans. Nomad Foods is Europe’s largest frozen food company – its partnership with BlueNalu will supercharge progress towards the commercialisation of cultivated seafood, and a truly sustainable seafood industry. “Cultivated seafood is made from a small sample of fish cells, instead of …

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Close up of BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-cultured yellowtail, beer-battered and deep-fried for fish tacos

©BlueNalu

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

BlueNalu to Bring Cell-Cultured Seafood to Europe With Nomad Foods, Owner of Bird’s Eye & Findus

September 13, 2021September 13, 2021

Europe’s leading frozen foods supplier, Nomad Foods, whose portfolio includes Birds Eye, Findus and iglo, announces a collaboration with cultured seafood pioneer BlueNalu, marking the first agreement in Europe between a CPG company and a cell-cultured seafood company. In January of this year, BlueNalu secured $60 million in the largest financing to date in the cell-based seafood industry worldwide. In April, the San Diego company signed MoU’s with global seafood producer Thai Union and Japan’s largest trading company Mitsubishi Corporation, to develop strategies for cell-grown seafood in Asia. This most recent agreement marks the coming of cell-cultured seafood to Europe and signifies a mutual interest in the commercialization of cell-cultured seafood in the continent to help meet rising demand and support wider efforts to safeguard the long-term …

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Chris Dammann Bluu Biosciences

Christian Dammann ©Bluu GmbH

Cultivated Seafood

Cultivated Seafood Producer Bluu Biosciences Announces BlueNalu Co-Founder Chris Dammann as Inaugural COO

March 2, 2022August 19, 2021

Bluu Biosciences, pioneer in the development and production of cultivated fish in Europe, has appointed Chris Dammann as the company’s first COO. Chris is considered one of the world’s leading experts in cellular agriculture and cultivated fish development. Prior to joining Bluu Biosciences Chris co-founded BlueNalu, one of the first companies worldwide to specialize in cultivated seafood. He developed the technology strategy and scientific approach for the company, and as its CTO led the implementation of a technology platform for cultivated fish. He built and led the R&D team, while also managing collaborations, IP, IT and the establishment of a PMO. Before founding BlueNalu Chris was Director of Science & Technology at the Invention Development Fund of Intellectual Ventures. Other career stops include the role …

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XPrize

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Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Umiami and BlueNalu Announced Among Semifinalists of XPRIZE Foundation Challenge – Feed the Next Billion

July 14, 2021

28 alt protein innovators from 14 countries have been announced as semifinalists for the next XPRIZE Foundation Challenge – Feed the Next Billion. The multi-year $15 million competition is aimed at reinventing how humanity will feed future generations. The semifinalist list reads like a “who’s-who” of the plant-based, cell-based, and fermentation-based alt protein sphere, as the startups compete to create a winning structured chicken breast or fish fillet analog that replicates or outperforms their animal-based counterparts. Fresh after its €2.3 million funding raise, French private label plant-based meat and fish specialist Umiami was selected, hoping to use its proprietary technology to convince the competition’s panel of judges with its technical submission. Cell-cultured fish pioneer BlueNalu has also been selected, with plans to enter a cell-cultured …

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BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-based yellowtail medallions, image supplied

BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-based yellowtail medallions, image supplied

BlueNalu Announces Framework for Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Cell-Cultured Seafood

July 1, 2021

Following its recent $60 million raise, cellular aquaculture specialist BlueNalu today announced a framework designed to achieve a premier standard of food safety, quality, and traceability for its cell-cultured seafood production, stating it is committed to pursuing third-party certification recognized by the international Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), such as the Safe Quality Food (SQF). The company is set to launch its cell-cultured mahi-mahi, bluefin tuna and other species through small-scale market testing that will be produced at its nearly 40,000 sq. ft. pilot-scale food production facility in San Diego, and plans to break ground on its first large-scale, regional production facility in the next few years. Leading the new initiatives at BlueNalu is Noreen Hobayan, MSc, PCQI, its director of quality assurance and regulatory …

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BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-based yellowtail medallions, image supplied

BlueNalu's whole-muscle, cell-based yellowtail medallions, image supplied

BlueNalu Signs Deals to Bring Cell Cultured Seafood to Asia With Thai Union and Mitsubishi Corporation

May 24, 2021April 30, 2021

As global seafood consumption continues to rise, particularly in Asia where it is outpacing population growth, cellular aquaculture specialist BlueNalu announces it has signed Memorandums of Understanding with global seafood producer Thai Union and Japan’s largest trading company Mitsubishi Corporation, to evaluate market development strategies for its cell-grown seafood in Asia.

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Lou Cooperhouse

©BlueNalu

BlueNalu Secures $60M, Cell-Based Seafood’s Largest Ever Funding Round

August 14, 2021January 20, 2021

BlueNalu, producer a variety of seafood products directly from fish cells, today announced the closing of $60 million in debt financing from new and existing investors, which is the largest financing to date in the cell-based seafood industry worldwide, according to BlueNalu.

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