UMAMI BIOWORKS SEEKS UK REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR CULTIVATED SEAFOOD

Umami Bioworks seeks UK regulatory approval for cultivated seafood

UK – Singaporean cultivated seafood producer Umami Bioworks is actively expanding its operations into the UK, as the company engages with regulatory authorities to pave its way to market entry.

The company’s move into the UK follows its strategy of addressing seafood supply shortages and increasing costs.

Mihir Pershad, founder and CEO of Umami Bioworks, stated that over the past year, the company has been exploring various approaches to launch its platform in the European market, which is experiencing growing challenges related to seafood availability.

This expansion comes on the heels of the UK government’s recent investment of nearly US$2 million to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) aimed at accelerating the testing and regulatory approval processes for cultivated meat.

Earlier this year, the UK also became the first European nation to permit the sale of cultivated meat products, albeit limited to pet food.

Simultaneously, Umami Bioworks has recently entered the South Korean market through a partnership with two local biotech firms.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KCell Biosciences and WSG to develop a scalable domestic production line for cultivated seafood.

This initiative aims to facilitate a quicker introduction of these products into the South Korean market.

As South Korea establishes a regulatory framework for cultivated meat, Umami Bioworks joins other companies capitalizing on the nation’s growing interest in alternative proteins.

The collaboration intends to utilize Umami Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology alongside KCell Biosciences’ cell culture media expertise and WSG’s bioprocessing equipment to create a robust production pipeline.

South Korea, recognised as one of the world’s largest seafood consumers, presents a significant opportunity for the consortium, which plans to use this venture as a model for future collaborations across Asia.

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