Shrimp analogue is the latest in a growing range of proprietary printer capabilities; has the potential to reshape the $68 billion shrimp industry
Israel’s Steakholder Foods Ltd., a leader in cultivated meat and 3D bioprinting technology, announced that it has further expanded its 3D-printing capabilities with the world’s first plant-based, 3D-printed shrimps, expertly designed to mimic the authentic texture and flavour of conventional shrimps. The shrimps were precision-printed on Steakholder Foods’ proprietary DropJet printer, designed for fish and seafood printing, using shrimp-flavoured ink developed by Steakholder Foods’ food technology team. It is the latest addition to the Company’s portfolio of printed seafood products to be offered to potential customers, on a plant (analogue) or potentially hybrid (combination plant and cultivated) basis, as economies of scale develop to enable price-competitive cell development.
The shrimp market is worth more than $60 billion and is projected to continue growing substantially over the coming decade. With 7.6 million tons of shrimp harvested in 2023, Steakholder Foods’ heavy-duty production printing solution aims to provide partners and customers with the means to meet growing demand through high-volume, efficient, and sustainable production, offering a practical and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional shrimp farming.
Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods, said: “By unveiling a second new species of plant-based, 3D-printed seafood this month, we expect to position Steakholder Foods to sell and deliver its first DropJet printer in 2024, offering partners and customers a unique opportunity to benefit from the expanding global seafood market, while making the right kind of impact on the environment.”
