Umami Bioworks Launches Cell-Cultured Marine Supplements to Replace Seafood Nutrients

Singaporean food tech startup Umami Bioworks has unveiled a new line of cell-cultured marine supplements aimed at tackling nutritional gaps for people who avoid seafood. The products, developed using cultivated animal cells, replicate key nutrients like omega-3s, vitamin B12, and iodine. Meanwhile, the company is pushing ahead with plans to expand its production and commercial partnerships by 2026.

Umami Bioworks is using its AI-driven Alkemyst platform to grow marine cells in bioreactors, producing bioactive compounds that match the nutritional benefits of traditional seafood. The supplements, branded as Marine Radiance, are not classified as vegan since they originate from animal cells. This has sparked discussions about how they should be labelled and whether consumers will accept them.

The company is also working on allergen-free cultivated seafood in collaboration with James Cook University. Plans include constructing a $10 million production facility in Japan by 2027. Alongside this, Umami Bioworks has already registered two cultivated whitefish ingredients with the EU Feed Materials Register, targeting pet food applications. With nearly 90% of global fish stocks either fully exploited or overfished, the startup's approach aims to ease pressure on marine ecosystems. By cultivating marine ingredients in controlled environments, the company seeks to cut the environmental toll of traditional fishing and aquaculture. In parallel, the Good Food Institute (GFI) and the Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Standards (AME) are shaping framework conditions and certification standards for cell-cultured seafood. Umami Bioworks is in the final stages of commercialisation, partnering with major brands to bring its cultivated supplements and seafood products to market by 2026.

Umami Bioworks' cell-cultured supplements and seafood products could provide an alternative for consumers seeking seafood-derived nutrients without relying on traditional fishing. The company's expansion plans, including a new facility in Japan and EU-registered ingredients, signal a push toward large-scale production. However, questions remain about consumer acceptance and the regulatory path for these novel products.