Food tech startup Aqua Cultured Foods has signed a Proof of Concept (PoC) with Switzerland-based retailer Migros, to advance the development of seafood alternatives with a realistic taste and texture.
The collaboration includes assessing Swiss consumer acceptance of Aqua’s fermentation-derived sea food alternatives and exploring new business opportunities.
Aqua uses microbial fermentation to “grow” protein, and is developing whole-muscle cut, sushi-quality filets of tuna and whitefish, as well as shrimp and calamari alternatives, based on its novel fermentation technology.
“The worldwide demand for seafood is exceeding the ocean’s capacity, and we appreciate that Migros wants to be part of the solution,” said Brittany Chibe, Aqua chief growth officer. “Interest in our alternative seafood is coming from Europe, North America and Asia, because the need for more sustainable proteins is increasing as the climate crisis worsens and population grows.”
Aqua’s fermentation methods do not use any animal inputs, genetic altering or modification and can be marketed as non-GMO. Aqua is currently scaling production and building infrastructure to release commercial products with strategic partners in 2022.
Aqua Cultured Foods
Aqua Cultured Foods is an innovative food technology startup developing the world’s first whole-muscle cut seafood alternatives created through microbial fermentation. Its novel technology produces a sustainable, complete protein source using only a fraction of the resources required by traditional aquaculture. As an R&D company with a focus on product commercialization, Aqua Cultured Foods occupies a unique position in the burgeoning alt-seafood market as well as within the fermentation industry. The company’s mission is to mitigate global challenges such as overfishing, climate change and feeding the world’s expanding population with delicious, nutrient-rich foods.
