The deal marks one of the first times cell-cultivated fish has been used in a pet food product. The treats will provide nutrition to companion animals without “ocean-devastating” commercial fishing practices.
“We must take steps to preserve ocean food sources and ecosystems for the long term. Fish is heavily used in pet foods and feeds for both land and aquatic animals alike. Being able to replace ocean harvested fish with cell-based sources is a strong solution to relieving the destructive pressures on our aquatic ecosystem. At the same time, it also will let us provide healthier alternatives for our pets,” CULT CEO Lejjy Gafour said in a press statement.
Further details were not provided by CULT, other than to say the availability of Marina Cat treats will be announced in the “near future.”
Umami Meats is a venture backed company based in Singapore with investors including CULT Food Science, Plug and Play, Better Bite Ventures, and Katapult Ocean.