US-based cellular aquaculture company BlueNalu has launched its business in San Diego to produce healthy seafood products directly from fish cells.
Launched at the International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) conference in Washington, DC, BlueNalu was founded by its chairman Chris Somogyi, chief technology officer Chris Dammann and president and CEO Lou Cooperhouse.
Cooperhouse said: “BlueNalu’s mission is to be the global leader in cellular aquaculture, providing consumers with great tasting, healthy, safe, and trusted seafood products that support the sustainability and diversity of our oceans.
“Consumers worldwide have become increasingly aware of the challenges that exist in our fishing and seafood industry.
“BlueNalu intends to disrupt the current industry practice, in which fish are farmed or wild-caught. Instead, we plan to produce real seafood products directly from fish cells, in a way that is healthy for people, humane for animals, and sustainable for our planet.”
The company has successfully raised initial funding from venture capital firm New Crop Capital.
New Crop Capital chief investment officer Chris Kerr said: “We are thrilled by the level of expertise of the BlueNalu team, in the diversified fields of cell biology, tissue engineering, intellectual property, food innovation, technology commercialisation, and consumer marketing.
“The mission of BlueNalu is totally aligned with our investment strategy, and consistent with consumer demands for products that replace foods derived from conventional animal agriculture.”
