Steakholder Foods in Israel and Umami Meats in Singapore have teamed up to create a cultivated fish filet prototype. They have created 3D bioprinted grouper fish fillets from stem cells that mimics the taste and texture of natural fish. The product could be available in supermarkets later this year.

“In the coming months, we intend to announce our plans for bringing this world-class cultivated fish to the market” said Mihir Pershad, CEO of Umami Meats at a tasting event in Israel last week “In the first tasting, we showcased a cultivated product that flakes, tastes and melts in your mouth exactly like excellent fish should,” he explained.

The technology has several benefits, including alleviating food scarcity and addressing the global issue of overfishing, which has depleted around one third of global fish stocks. Additionally, the biologically engineered fish is free from pollutants such as microplastics.

The grouper fish fillets are made by combining fish stem cells with nutrients, which are processed into bio-inks and printed in just a few minutes. Stakeholder is also working to create other 3D-printed meats, including steaks and eel. In 2020, KFC partnered with a Russian bioprinting company to produce artificial chicken nuggets.