Fishway and Multus Biotechnology have entered into a strategic partnership to develop scalable, cost-effective cultivated fish. The collaboration brings together Fishway’s expertise in fish cell line development and Multus’ AI-driven platform for optimising growth media, with both companies aiming to accelerate the availability of cultivated seafood.
Making cultivated fish viable
The new partnership between the two companies is seen as a key step in addressing the challenges of scaling up cultivated fish production. According to Multus, “We’re very pleased to be working with Fishway. Between Fishway’s expertise in fish cell lines and Multus’ AI-enabled rapid optimisation platform, we’re excited to see what this partnership can do for reaching price parity.”
This collaboration will also allow the companies to design tailored, scalable growth media specifically for cultivated fish, accelerating the path toward cost parity and ultimately making cultivated fish a viable commodity.
Fishway focuses on developing biomass from fish cells that mimics the nutritional profile of traditional fish fillets. The process begins with tissue samples from fish, isolating stem cells that are nurtured under controlled conditions to multiply in large bioreactors. Once the biomass reaches sufficient growth, it can be harvested and used in various food applications.
AI meets seafood
Multus, a UK-based startup founded in 2020 by researchers from Imperial College London, specialises in developing animal-free cell culture media. The company employs artificial intelligence and automation to optimise media formulations, aiming to reduce costs and enhance scalability in cultivated meat production. Recently, Multus launched a food-grade basal media that uses AI to identify ingredients from the food industry that can replace those traditionally used in biopharmaceutical production, providing essential nutrients required for cell growth.
Fishway, referencing Cai Linton, the CEO of Multus, stated, “We’re thrilled the word is out! Huge shoutout to the Multus team and to Cai for your visionary leadership. We’re confident this partnership will echo across the cultivated fish ecosystem. Excited for what lies ahead as we take bold steps toward scalable, sustainable seafood.”
