In a groundbreaking move, the German company Bluu Seafood has just opened what’s being hailed as Europe’s first pilot plant for lab-grown fish, right in the heart of Hamburg. This marks a big leap from their smaller lab in Lübeck, where they first began their work on creating seafood without the sea. The new Hamburg facility stretches over 2,000 square meters, filled with the latest tech for research, production, and office work.
The main stars of the show at this plant are the sophisticated tanks, known as fermenters, which are used to grow fish cells into edible products. These tanks, currently holding 65 liters, could eventually expand to manage 2,000 liters, making room for a lot more fish to be grown.
The process starts with taking a small number of cells from fish like Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Bluu Seafood assures that no fish are hurt in this process. These cells are then put into the fermenters, where they’re given oxygen and nutrients, allowing them to grow. After a while, this cell mass is collected and shaped into foods we all know, like fish sticks and fish balls.
What makes this lab-grown fish special? According to Bluu Seafood, it tastes and cooks just like the fish we’re used to, but without the downsides like GMOs, heavy metals, or microplastics that you might find in regular seafood.
Plus, it’s better for the planet. The United Nations has warned that most of the world’s fish populations are overfished. Farming fish in large numbers also harms the environment and can spread diseases. Lab-grown fish could be a game-changer by being a more sustainable option.
Bluu Seafood has big plans. They’re aiming to make this lab-grown fish available at the same price as regular fish within the next three years, as long as they can scale up their operations and the market is ready for it. Co-founder Sebastian Rakers said that this new Hamburg site is crucial for reaching that goal.
But there’s a catch – they need the green light from regulators. Bluu Seafood is hoping for approval from Singapore by early 2025, with the US and EU expected to follow. This path is similar to the one taken by lab-grown meat, which got the thumbs up in Singapore first, then the US, with Europe currently considering it.
As Bluu Seafood works towards getting the necessary approvals, the idea of having cultivated fish on our dinner plates is getting closer to reality.
