International deep-tech food company MeaTech 3D Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based Umami Meats for the joint development of 3D-printed cultured structured seafood.
With Umami Meats’ focus being on developing species that are expected to experience severe supply-side shortages in the coming years due to climate change, overfishing and continuously growing consumer demand, this new collaboration opens a door for both companies into the Asian market, and Singapore specifically, which is currently the only country that has authorised the production and distribution of cultured meat.
Mihir Pershad, Umami Meats’ CEO & Founder, said, “This partnership will enable us to build upon our technology platform for cultivating fish muscle and fat to produce a variety of structured products that meet the desires of discerning consumers. We believe cultivated seafood holds tremendous potential to provide a local, sustainable source of healthy protein and to address many of the challenges facing our food system and our oceans.”
According to MeaTech, the agreement is part of its strategy to collaborate with other players in the alternative protein space and to take advantage of its technological and biological capabilities to develop and print a wide variety of species.
With this deal, MeaTech will be adding seafood to its portfolio of bovine, avian and porcine products under development.
Arik Kaufman, MeaTech’s Chief Executive Officer & Founder, said, “We are very pleased about this new agreement which reflects our commercialization strategy of industry collaboration using our unique 3D printing capabilities. We are excited about entering into the seafood sector and believe it will lead us to new market pathways throughout Asia and worldwide.”
MeaTech claims that its 3D bioprinting technology can produce complex meat products with pinpoint precision at an industrial rate of production without impacting cell viability. Also, through the company’s private subsidiary, it is developing and commercialising its 3D-printing capabilities in-house and to third parties in the food tech sector.
It maintains facilities in Rehovot, Israel and Antwerp, Belgium and is in the process of expanding activities to the US.
