Steakholder Foods receives further funding for 3D-printed eel

Steakholder Foods has received a further payment of 250,000 US dollars from the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD). This brings the total funding disbursed to date to 740,000 US dollars out of a total of one million, which has been allocated for the development of new processes for the production of 3D-printed fish and seafood alternatives. The funding will support the company’s ongoing research project, which is being conducted in partnership with Umami Bioworks.

Steakholder Foods uses a combination of the company’s proprietary HD144 printer technology and the Drop Location in Space (DLS) printing process to produce its alternative fish products. The company successfully produced hybrid 3D-printed fish back in March 2024. This was followed in November 2024 by the development of plant-based fish and eel products. The third payment has now been approved due to progress made in replicating the texture and taste of eel.

The research work focuses on the precise modelling of the structure of fish meat and the optimization of the material composition. This includes the development of special premix blends designed to replicate the desired sensory properties such as mouthfeel and flavor profile. The company sees the technology as an opportunity to create sustainable alternatives to conventional fish products that can meet the growing challenges of overfishing and the ecological impact on the oceans.

Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods, said: “We are thrilled to receive this third non-dilutive grant installment from SIIRD, which reflects our significant progress in our collaboration with Umami Bioworks and commitment to advancing food technology. We are excited to continue enhancing our 3D printing capabilities and premix formulations to create additional high-quality, sustainable seafood alternatives.”

With the progress made, the goal of additively manufacturing high-quality alternatives to traditional seafood products is within reach. The next project phases will focus on further optimizing the material composition and the scalability of the production processes for a broader market launch.