BlueNalu extends strategic partnership with Nutreco as it works to scale production

San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based cell-cultured seafood startup BlueNalu is extending its collaboration with feed company Nutreco with a third agreement between the two companies.

BlueNalu and Nutreco formalized the first agreement in late 2019, with Nutreco supplying some of its expertise in fish nutrition and raw materials to the cell-cultured startup. Since that time, BlueNalu has signed agreements with several other companies – including Mitsubishi Corporation and Thai Union –  to advance commercial production of its cell-cultured bluefin tuna.

The newest agreement between BlueNalu and Nutreco marks the start of Nutreco developing the food-grade supply chain infrastructure complimenting BlueNalu’s production stages – from “pilot scale development to regulatory stages” and the future commercialization of the product, the company said in a release. Part of that effort is focused on lowering the cost of cell feed while also creating metrics for the raw materials required for successful cell-cultured seafood production – metrics which need to keep regulatory requirements in mind. 

“Our vision to create a healthy, secure and sustainable protein solution with cell-cultured seafood, starts by solving several key challenge areas, which include the shift from a pharma-grade to food-grade ingredient supply,” BlueNalu Co-Founder, President, and CEO Lou Cooperhouse said in a release. “I’m proud to share that between our team’s innovation and incredible strategic partners, we’ve continued to overcome these hurdles. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Nutreco as we aim to scale together to bring nutritious seafood products to consumers worldwide.”

BlueNalu said the new partnership follows up on its earlier announcement that it has “cracked the code” on profitability in cell-cultured seafood production.

“Our team has achieved significant technological feats that have reinforced our pathway and support commercial viability,” BlueNalu Chief Technology Officer Lauran Madden said.

The company plans to start with the fatty “toro” portion of bluefin tuna – the most desirable, and valuable, part of the animal. Cooperhouse shared with SeafoodSource the company’s processes will allow it to expand into other species in the future, once establishes commercial success with its tuna. 

Nutreco said the partnership will allow it to continue to remain at the forefront of food technology as development of cell-cultured foods continues to advance. 

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with BlueNalu in the years ahead and placing our capabilities as global leader in nutritional solutions at the service of visionary protein producers determined to drive forward the cellular agriculture industry,” Nutreco Head of Alternative Protein Susanne Wiegel said.