Last week, Icelandic plant biotechnology company ORF Genetics partnered with South Korean cultivated seafood startup Cellmeat to host what was claimed to be the first cultivated shellfish tasting held outside Asia.
The tasting took place at the Iceland Ocean Cluster, a center that supports, incubates, and invests in startups creating value from under-utilized marine resources. Among the attendees were Mr. Björn Skúlason, the First Gentleman of Iceland, and Mrs. Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Guests were given the opportunity to taste cultivated shellfish products prepared by South Korean chef Jinyoung Park.
Around a year ago, ORF Genetics facilitated what was claimed to be Europe’s first cultivated meat tasting in partnership with Australian cultivated quail producer Vow. The event was attended by Iceland’s then-Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. A few months later, ORF Genetics partnered with British cultivated meat company Ivy Farm to hold another tasting during Iceland Innovation Week.
“I am proud of how Iceland has positioned itself at the forefront of food innovation, providing a platform for groundbreaking tasting experiences like this one at the Iceland Ocean Cluster,” said Berglind Rán Ólafsdóttir, CEO of ORF Genetics. “ORF Genetics’ growth factors will not only enable cultivated meat producers like Cellmeat to develop sustainable alternatives but also to scale up production to meet future demand. This is a crucial prerequisite for reducing the environmental impact of global food production.”
Making cultivated seafood economically viable
Cellmeat has been developing cultivated shellfish since 2019, and has now begun process development for production using ORF Genetics’ MESOkine high-performance growth factors. These are made using bioengineered barley and have been designed specifically for cultivated meat production.
In 2023, Cellmeat raised $13 million in Series A funding after claiming it had developed cell culture technology that made large-scale cultivated seafood production economically viable. The previous year, the company secured $8.1 million to double the pilot production of its cultivated shrimp.
“I am very pleased to introduce our products in Iceland through our collaboration with ORF Genetics,” said Giljun Park, CEO and founder of Cellmeat. “In the era of responding to climate change, for cell-cultured foods to become widely adopted by the public, they must not only excel in fundamental aspects like taste but also provide economic efficiency and environmental value.
“Iceland, with its advanced technology and innovative policies such as reducing carbon emissions and maximizing renewable energy production, is a leading country that perfectly aligns with our vision. I look forward to the growth of Cellmeat through developing our collaboration with ORF Genetics and to seeking further opportunities in Iceland.”
