FAQs
Supporting information
Read the full press release below:
BlueNalu cracks the code to significant profitability in first large-scale facility
Can you further explain your non-GMO single-cell suspension line and why this sets you apart from competitors?
Cell-cultured foods are grown in large bioreactors, like what you would find at a brewery. To grow cells quickly and efficiently in these large tanks depends on the technology developed for the cells inside. Yeast cells that are grown in suspension for brewing can rapidly proliferate, sometimes reaching up to 1M liters. These breweries utilize a single-cell suspension technology to reach mass volume for their beverages. BlueNalu’s groundbreaking technology has unlocked the code for non-GMO single cell suspension for our fish cells, resulting in high growth rates that will accelerate scale-up to our large bioreactors, which are projected to reach 100,000L (again, like the size you would find in a brewery) for our first large scale facility.
What can you tell us about your revolutionary lipid loading technique? How does it differ from competitors?
This technology allows us to use just one cell type while developing structures comparable to what you would already have in food. This will enable us to reduce costly capital expenditures by more than 50% while still allowing us to make products with higher fat profiles and sensory attributes.
These technologies are protected by industry know-how and pending patents and are applicable in other categories outside of finfish. Do other food categories have access to the technology? Have other categories of food also cracked the code? Will we start to see a surge in profitability for food companies that are deploying these technologies?
Thus far, BlueNalu believes we are the only company in the cell-cultured seafood space that has unlocked this kind of technology, setting us up for long-term scalability with significant profit margins. Cell-cultured technology has long been utilized in a variety of industries like pharma and brewing, however these industries are not necessarily faced with the same challenges as cell-cultured seafood, which must overcome considerable technology challenges that include scalable cell growth technologies; the development of food-grade raw materials; production methods that enable regulatory approval and consumer adoption; and processes that support continuous volume production.
BlueNalu has already made significant progress on our pathway to commercialization, and we are confident that we will continue to overcome these challenges.
Can you tell us who BlueNalu used to conduct their TEA (Techno-Economic Assessment)?
While we can’t disclose the name of our partner, we worked with a world-class, publicly renowned global Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firm that assessed our intellectual property, tested our assumptions, evaluated the feasibility of each piece of equipment required for large-scale production and ultimately validated that our technology pathway is feasible. The firm has been conducting such assessments for over 100 years and is positioned as one of the best in the industry.
Separately, BlueNalu also worked with a technology company to develop state-of-the-art software modeling for process simulation that evaluated and validated our assumptions and projections. Our assessment included capacity analysis, production planning, scheduling, debottlenecking, environmental impact assessment, and project economic evaluation.
Will it be possible to tour either facility at some point?
While we are not doing public tours at this time, we plan to in the future. For now, we encourage you to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on our company progress!
Because the cell-cultured protein industry must overcome so many technological hurdles, are you collaborating with others to address some of these challenges?
BlueNalu welcomes industry collaboration to develop market research and consumer insights, assess regulatory requirements, explore business and product opportunities that could accelerate and promote the introduction of cell-cultured seafood products and more. BlueNalu’s value proposition has attracted a number of globally leading strategic partners, which include leading multinational companies located in Asia (Food & Life Companies, Mitsubishi Corporation, Pulmuone Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, and Thai Union); in Europe (Nomad Foods and Nutreco); and in the U.S. (Griffith Foods and Rich Products). We are actively seeking partners in a variety of industries to help us meet our aggressive goals.
BlueNalu has an impressive roster of investors and strategic partners. How have these partners helped in your pursuit to crack the code on technology and profitability?
Many organizations involved in the seafood industry recognize that the future supply of seafood will be unable to keep up with demand, as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization projects there will be a supply chain gap of seafood of 28 million tons by 2030. We need a new solution, and BlueNalu seafood is one of these solutions that can complement existing supply to meet growing demand. Working with the leading seafood companies expedites our ability to scale production and distribution of our products globally, with the quickest pathway possible, at the least possible cost.
Any update on when BlueNalu will bring their bluefin tuna toro to market?
We plan to introduce our initial cell-cultured bluefin tuna toro in a test market via foodservice operators as soon as feasible, pending completion of our pilot production facility and the finalization of regulatory requirements needed by the U.S. FDA, which are both currently in process. Our new 40,000 square foot (3,700 square meters) facility will be a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) food innovation center that will enable us to continually ideate, innovate and introduce new species, new forms, and packaging options for our customers and consumers.
After the pilot phase, we will expand manufacturing operations and introduce additional species and product forms to meet consumer demand. Upon the completion of our market testing, we hope to break ground on our first large-scale manufacturing facility.
Which additional species/seafood categories do you plan to expand into?
Though we plan to stay in our swim lane, seafood, due to its disruptive potential, our platform technology allows us to produce a variety of species so we can meet consumer demand wherever we go to market. The beauty of focusing our efforts on seafood is the abundance of distinct, differentiated species from all over the globe and the versatility of these products. Plus, the problems in the seafood supply chain affect not just one, but many of the seafood species that consumers love. To be successful as a food company, we can’t just be ‘one and done.’ We’ve already demonstrated our ability to create a variety of finfish. This gives us confidence in our ability to create stable cell lines, from freshwater to saltwater fish, warm water-loving to cold water-loving species.
In the future, we’ll be evaluating mollusks and crustaceans—the other two seafood categories that people love to consume.