A partnership between Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks, (previously Umami Meats) and the young US company Friends & Family Pet Food Co. (recently part of the ProVeg Incubator’s 12th cohort) is set to launch one of the world’s first cultivated fish cat treats in Singapore and in San Francisco, USA, early next year.
The new products, reportedly crafted with high-quality cultivated fish proteins enriched with high-value microalgae and essential nutrients, aimed to promote what FnF calls a “Longevity Diet” for cats. In addition, the animal and ocean-friendly cat food lineup offers significant environmental benefits since cultivated fish production is more resource-efficient, requiring less land, water, and feed than traditional fishing methods or aquaculture.
“Together, we have created a breakthrough product that puts pet health and sustainability at the forefront”
Joshua Errett, Friends & Family CEO and founder, states, “Together, we have created a breakthrough product that puts pet health and sustainability at the forefront. These cultivated fish treats are a perfect example of how science and technology can be harnessed to create positive change in the pet food industry.”
The potential of cultivated fish
The collaboration leverages UMAMI Bioworks’ advanced cultivated fish technology and FnF’s proprietary pet food platform, aiming to place the companies at the forefront of innovation in the pet food industry.
Friends & Family Pet Food Co., founded in 2023 by Errett, Jonny Cruz, and Sarah Dodd in Oakland, California, is a new producer bringing alternative proteins to the pet food aisle, starting with cultivated fish. The company targets Gen Z and Millennial pet parents with products that ensure pets’ health and well-being while focusing on sustainability.
Operating in Singapore, UMAMI Bioworks is developing an automated cultivated seafood production platform using stem cell biology, machine learning, and automation to produce cost-effective cultivated fish.
With this new partnership, the biotech demonstrates the commercial potential and scalability of its cultivated seafood technology. Last year, the company announced its first commercial partnership to produce cultivated fish for pets with CULT Food Science‘s brand Marina Cat, claimed as the world’s first cell-cultivated pet food brand.
Mihir Pershad, CEO of UMAMI Bioworks, commented, “Our collaboration with Friends & Family is a genuine testament to the commercial potential of cultivated seafood in transforming pet nutrition and ultimately human food systems. These novel cat treats embody our mission to provide high-quality, sustainable protein sources while alleviating the ecological pressure on our oceans.”
Pets enjoying next-gen products
Cultivated meat for pet food, often made into biscuits, tins, or pouches, has more leniency in terms of texture and appearance, allowing manufacturers to cut corners that wouldn’t be acceptable to human meat lovers.
The Czech biotech Bene Meat Technologies was among the first producers to announce animal cell lines for producing cultivated meat ingredients for the pet food industry. “The first economically meaningful and mass-produced product will most likely be pet food!” the startup said. This May, the Czech biotech introduced its first cultivated meat product for pets at the latest Interzoo trade fair in Nuremberg.
This week, the UK’s Meatly received approval from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which regulates animal feed, and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs to commercialize its cultivated meat ingredients for pet food. In partnership with the plant-based pet food Omni, Meatly will introduce a cat food product made with cultivated chicken in the UK this year.
Also invested in sustainable proteins, the Austrian cultivated meat company BioCraft Pet Nutrition is developing premium cultivated meat ingredients for companion animals.
Rohan Thakur, Partner at Pure Ventures, a food industry investor, and advisor to Friends & Family and UMAMI Bioworks, added, “To make a positive climate impact it is imperative to have innovative products that win on the shelf and demonstrate business models that scale. Josh’s expertise in pet food and UMAMI’s technology provide the foundation to create the next generation of pet food products.”
