Food technology company Steakholder Foods received a grant to develop 3D-printed seafood products, namely eel and grouper, with help from Umami Meats. The funds were granted from the Singapore Israel Industrial R&D Foundation, a cooperation between Enterprise Singapore and the Israel Innovation Authority.

Umami Meats, a cultivated fish and seafood business, is based in Singapore, where regulatory approval for cultivated meats has already been issued. Together, Umami Meats and Steakholder Foods will work to scale cultivated seafood products.

"We are thrilled to be combining our deep knowledge and experience in cultivated seafood with Steakholder Foods' innovative 3D bio-printing technology,” said Mihir Pershad, chief executive officer and founder at Umami Meats. “We believe this partnership will help us advance our vision of a new, more sustainable food system for preserving our marine ecosystems while delivering exceptional, high-quality seafood to meet growing consumer demand."

Using Steakholder Foods' proprietary 3D bio-printing technology and bio-inks that will be customized for Umami Meats' cells, the companies plan to produce their first prototype by the first quarter of 2023. The first product will be a structured hybrid grouper.

"Industry collaborations are a critical aspect of our long-term business strategy,” said Yair Ayalon, vice president of business development at Steakholder. “Our partnership with Umami Meats is especially meaningful following our recent patent application for fish texture and because it is being supported by a joint Israeli/Singaporean government initiative of which we are very proud to be a part."

This latest project follows Steakholder’s creation of cultivated beef, chicken and pork.