American cell-cultured seafood company BlueNalu has agreed to explore the introduction of cell-based seafood products in Europe via an agreement with UK-based Nomad Foods – Europe’s leading frozen food company. In April, BlueNalu also increased its potential reach to Asian markets following Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s global seafood producer Thai Union and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation.
Europe is the largest importer of seafood in the world due to high consumption rates, with EU citizens consuming more than three times as much as they produce. The agreement represents the first of its kind in Europe between a consumer packaged goods company and a cultured seafood company. The agreement also signifies a mutual interest in the commercialisation of cultured seafood in Europe to help meet rising demand and support wider efforts to safeguard the long-term availability of quality, affordable seafood that is healthy for people and sustainable for the planet.
Much like the MOUs with Thai Union and Mitsubishi, the deal includes a collaboration to conduct market research and identify consumer insights, assess regulatory requirements, and explore new business and product opportunities that would be unlocked by the introduction of cell-cultured seafood.
Lou Cooperhouse, President and Chief Executive Officer, BlueNalu, said: “As the latest IPCC report on the climate crisis demonstrates, the decisions we make over the next decade will have a profound impact on life on this planet for generations to come.
“We are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with Nomad Foods, which has revered, market-leading brands such as Birds Eye, Findus and iglo, to accelerate our market strategy in Europe. With this announcement, BlueNalu is well-positioned to bring our leading-edge innovation into Europe in the coming years, which complements our existing collaborations in Asia and North America.”
Stéfan Descheemaeker, Chief Executive Officer, Nomad Foods, said: “The food industry is at a transformational moment as consumer demand for nutritious, high-quality food is growing, the importance of sustainability has never been more apparent, and the role of technology in delivering these needs is accelerating.
“We are at the forefront of a generational shift towards healthier, more sustainable eating and are delighted to announce our collaboration with BlueNalu. Their breakthrough technology in cell-cultured seafood perfectly aligns with our purpose and will enable us to continue to introduce innovative and great tasting seafood products that are good for people, good for the planet and accessible to all.”
With wild fisheries and fish farms increasingly vulnerable to various anthropogenic and environmental pressures, BlueNalu’s cell-cultured seafood products could offer a regenerative, continuous, consistent and healthy seafood solution that is traceable, secure, and safe.
To date BlueNalu has received investments from investors located in 14 nations originating from Asia (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand); Europe (Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, and U.K.); the Middle East (Israel, Saudi Arabia); South America (Brazil); Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala) and North America (U.S.).
