UMAMI Bioworks (previously Umami Meats) continues to expand its footprint across Asia to offer sustainable solutions to the growing demand for seafood products.
Today, the Singaporean company announces a strategic partnership with South Korean biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG to establish a scalable production pipeline for cultivated seafood in South Korea. The parties also intend to co-invest in a GMP-compliant hub facility to produce cultivated eel and other seafood species.
“We will work closely together to optimize our production solution and to bring the first cultivated food production facility to South Korea”
The collaboration will leverage UMAMI Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology, KCell Biosciences’ competitively priced cell culture media, and WSG’s bioprocessing hardware and bioreactor systems to expedite the introduction of products.
UMAMI Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad comments, “With WSG and K-Cell’s history of delivering high-quality bioprocess equipment and culture media, we will work closely together to optimize our production solution and to bring the first cultivated food production facility to South Korea.”
A market opportunity
Given South Korea’s significant seafood consumption and growing consumer interest in cell-based foods, the partnership is positioned to capitalize on a large market.
To do so, the UMAMI-led consortium will focus on meeting regulatory compliance with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to expedite the introduction of cultivated seafood products. As of February 2024, MFDS is accepting cultivated meat applications.
The collaboration also aims to set the stage for the broader commercialization of cultivated seafood in the region and create a blueprint for future partnerships across Asia.
A scalable plug-and-play production
UMAMI Bioworks uses stem cell biology, machine learning, and automation to develop endangered fish species like eel and tuna. The company’s long-term vision is to create a sustainable platform for stakeholders to enter the cultivated seafood market.
Pershad adds, “A critical part of UMAMI’s ambition to establish a scalable plug-and-play production solution for cultivated seafood is securing partnerships with key strategic suppliers who are capable of supplying critical hardware and inputs at prices and volumes that match our customers’ requirements.”
This strategic collaboration follows the company’s expansion into India and the previous acquisition of the cultivated crustaceans startup Shiok Meats, solidifying its global presence in the seafood category.
The biotech company has also partnered with Japanese seafood leader Maruha Nichiro to establish the infrastructure of Japan’s cultivated seafood industry and has launched FuturFISH, a seafood innovation and sustainability hub to drive new developments through collaborative efforts. UMAMI also set foot in the US market with a partnership to launch cultivated seafood treats for cats with the startup Friends & Family Pet Food Co.
Achieving a commercially viable business model
KCell Biosciences specializes in cell culture media, supporting the commercialization of cultivated meat and seafood. The company focuses on establishing mass production systems and ensuring regulatory compliance.
WSG provides innovative single-use bioprocess solutions for the scalable production of cell-based foods, facilitating the introduction of sustainable, high-quality products. Its expertise in bioreactor technology will support UMAMI’s production in South Korea with affordable and scalable hardware and utility infrastructure.
Victor Kang, CEO of KCell Biosciences and WSG Group, shares, “It is momentous that the packaged solutions of UMAMI’s bioprocess system, KCell’s cell-culture media production, and WSG’s stainless infrastructure surpass the level of price parity for food companies licensing in the manufacturing of cell-cultivated seafood products.
“The bioprocess solutions that UMAMI Bioworks possesses fit perfectly as the missing puzzle piece for us that achieves a commercially viable business model.”
