ISRAEL – Israel-based seafood company Forsea has made significant progress toward making cell-cultured eel a commercially viable product.
The company recently achieved a record for the highest cell density in the field of cultured seafood, a breakthrough that could have major implications for the industry.
Forsea’s innovative organoid technology played a key role in this achievement. The company’s patented platform allows cells to grow and differentiate autonomously, mimicking the natural development of tissues.
Unlike traditional cell-cultured seafood methods that require stem cells to be directed toward specific tissues, Forsea’s approach enables cells to form 3D tissue structures independently, including muscle, fat, and connective tissue.
This method is less costly than conventional techniques that rely on expensive growth factors.
Founder and CEO Roee Nir emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating it aligns with the company’s goal to create sustainable, high-quality seafood that is affordable and widely accessible.
He added that the success with eel cultivation serves as a foundation for scaling other seafood products and supports the development of sustainable supply chains for species that are ecologically sensitive.
Chief Technology Officer Morio Shimoni also expressed confidence in the breakthrough, noting that the advancement in cell density showcases the potential of Forsea’s organoid technology.
The company is aiming to capture a share of the global eel market, valued at approximately US$4.3 billion USD in 2023.
Consumption of eel is particularly high in Japan, which accounts for 70% of the market, though demand is also growing in China and South Korea.
The market is expected to grow at a rate of 2.19%, reaching nearly US$4.9 billion by 2031.
As the popularity of cultivated meat rises, Forsea’s breakthrough is part of a broader trend towards reducing the environmental impact of traditional meat production.
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