In Portugal, University of Lisbon spinout Algae2Fish has received funding to advance cultivated seabass. The unspecified funds from the Good Food Institute will be used to first cultivate seabass cells and then develop a process to 3D print those cells into boneless filets on a scaffolding made of algae and other plant-based materials.
“At this point we want to establish a 3D edible and vegan scaffold able to support fish cell growth,” project leader Frederico Ferreira tells FoodNavigator. “For that, we will use 3D bioprinting and electrospinning techniques. Seabass fish cells were selected due to their commercial availability and reported studies that indicate the possibility of deriving such cells into muscle and adipose cells. Thus, the selection is related with scientific knowledge maturity already established for these cells, but the approach taken will be possible to be applied to other stem cell fish, when those will be available.”
Algae2Fish was one of nearly two dozen startups to receive funding from GFI’s Competitive Research Grant program, which seeks to promote early development of cultivated meat and other foods employing fermentation or plant-based solutions.