FIRST COMMERCIAL PRODUCT THROUGH FERMENTATION TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED BY AQUA CULTURED FOODS

First commercial product through fermentation technology successfully developed by Aqua Cultured Foods.

By Amod Ashok Salgaonkar 16.02.2022

Food tech start-up, Aqua Cultured Foods has completed development of its first commercial product from its novel microbial fermentation technology. Aqua’s calamari fries will be available through strategic partners later this year.

Aqua’s fermentation technology yields mycoprotein with a realistic appearance, taste, and texture plus high nutritional value & this proprietary method delivers the first whole-muscle cut, sushi-quality seafood alternatives.

Aqua’s team claimed to have perfected its realistic texture and preparation, and will offer calamari fries in seasoned and breaded options. Culinary advisor Johnny Carino, an executive chef who helped lock in the formula for the company’s first product said:

“As you bite in, you get an immediate crunch note that combines with the realistic, slightly chewy texture of the calamari. It looks and acts like calamari. There was no learning curve as you’d expect with a completely new product or ingredient.”

“We’re moving on an accelerated timeline from the R&D stage to commercialisation, and now our focus will be scale-up, strategic alliances, and go-to-market partners such as restaurant chains,” said Aqua CEO Anne Palermo. “Hitting this milestone ahead of schedule is an achievement for the alt-seafood and alt-protein sectors, as well as for us as a company.”

2022 is set to be the year of alt-seafood as per many of the industry experts. U.S. alt-seafood sales grew by 23% in 2020 and it is expected to be a $1.3 billion market in the next decade, fuelled by increasing awareness of how unsustainable the conventional seafood supply chain is, and how destructive to ocean ecosystems. Fermentation uses a fraction of the resources of traditional aquaculture, and Aqua has refined the science of fermentation for fish and shellfish analogues.

In addition to calamari, Aqua is developing shrimp, scallops, and filets of animal-free tuna and whitefish, all with a realistic taste and texture. Aqua’s fermentation methods do not use any animal inputs, genetic altering or modification and can be marketed as non-GMO. Per serving, products will contain 18-20 grams of protein, 10-12 grams of fibre and no sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol, and Omega-3s. These nutritional values are similar to cod, which contains 18g of protein, 0.7g of fat, nearly 43mg cholesterol, 54mg of sodium, and no fibre.

About Aqua Cultured Foods

Aqua Cultured Foods is an innovative food technology start-up 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. Investors include Supply Change Capital, Aera VC, HPA, Sustainable Food Ventures, Hanfield Venture Partners, Lifely VC, Conscience VC, Kingfisher Capital, Big Idea Ventures, and Gonzalo Ramirez Martiarena. For more information visit https://www.aquaculturedfoods.com