Startup unveils cell-cultivated eel product
Forsea Foods, a cell-cultured seafood startup, has unveiled its first prototype of cell-cultivated freshwater eel. It has replicated the traditional Japanese unagi eel (Anguilla japonica) featuring the same texture and rich flavour as real eel.
The startup has been working with executive chef Katsumi Kusumoto to create two popular traditional Japanese dishes — unagi kabayaki (marinated grilled eel over rice) and unagi nigiri. Kusumoto runs the vegan restaurant SAIDO in Tokyo.
The company has achieved a working proof of concept that embodies the sensory attributes of real eel meat and is now preparing to scale up. In the collaboration, Forsea contributed its novel technology for cell-cultivating eel cuts, while Kusumoto contributed his culinary mastery to refine the product.
“Unagi is an enduring favourite in Japan,” Kusumoto said. “Its timeless appeal, however, is impacted by a growing awareness among the Japanese population of the need to take a more sustainable approach. It’s been a thrilling journey to join forces with emerging innovators, and working together to deliver the traditional unagi indulgence with a clear eco-conscience.”
Forsea was founded in 2021 with a mission to put a stop to depleting seafood populations by developing cultivated alternatives. Eels have become endangered due to overfishing, with the meat popular in Asia, Europe and the US.
Beyond its contribution to ocean conservation, Forsea’s cell-cultivated eel is designed to provide a nutritious alternative that is free from antibiotics, hormones or ocean pollutants.
Forsea’s proprietary method for culturing seafood features its application of organoid technology which allows for the crafting of 3D microtissues composed of fat and muscle. These spontaneously differentiate into edible cells, mimicking the natural process of cell formation. The cell lines self-organise into tissue structures without the need for scaffold support, simplifying the production process and enhancing scalability.
The product is expected to be ready for commercial launch in 2025.
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