Maruha Nichiro to develop cell-based bluefin tuna
In 2010, Maruha Nichiro became the first private company to successfully fully farm the species. Now it is building on that to produce its fish in a laboratory.
Maruha Nichiro Corporation has signed a joint development agreement for cellular bluefin tuna with Singapore-based Umami Bioworks in response to growing global seafood demand.
Maruha Nichiro began joint research and development of cellular seafood with Umami Bioworks in August 2023.
In 2010, Maruha Nichiro became the first private company to successfully fully farm bluefin tuna.
As the Japanese food boom increases the possibility of expanding the sales channels for bluefin tuna in overseas markets, Maruha Nichiro said it will provide cells collected from fully farmed bluefin tuna, which it has been researching and developing, to Umami Bioworks for the first time, and aim to establish cell culture technology using the company's cell culture platform.
"In response to the growing demand for seafood around the world, cellular seafood is attracting attention as one of the new technologies to supply next-generation seafood-derived proteins," wrote Maruha Nichiro in a press release.
Maruha Nichiro is investing heavily in alternatives to increase its seafood production in the years to come.
After 18 years under its current name following the merger of fishing companies Maruha and Nichiro in 2007, the company will, as of March 1 next year, be renamed Umios Corporation.
"In its new long-term vision, Maruha Nichiro aims to provide sustainable protein and create health value," wrote Maruha Nichiro. "We will continue to work to build a solutions-based business model that will continue to secure and procure new protein resources on a sustainable basis, and then process them into a variety of products using Maruha Nichiro's existing advanced technology and deliver them in a stable manner."
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