EFishient Protein

EFISHient Protein is an Israel-based cultured seafood startup that was initiated through a joint venture between BioMeat FoodTech (76% share capital) and the Volcani Institute of Israel (10% share capital) in 2021. While the former handles business development and operational funding, the latter provides the facilities and development team.

EFISHient collects cell samples from real fish and uses them to build cell banks, which can be used later on. These cells are then scaled using proprietary technology to create tissue, muscle cells, and fat cells, which are converted into cultivated fish. The company was developing tilapia meat as its first project and unveiled a prototype of cultivated tilapia fish filet in December 2023. In April 2024, it completed the development of a cell line that can be used to produce muscle and fat cells of Tilapia, contributing significantly toward the establishment of a genetic cell bank.

EFISHient intends to use cultivated tilapia as raw material to create fish cutlets, fish fingers, fish balls, and fish filets. It also plans to move away from using animal-derived serum and, if successful, to sell the serum to other cultivated meat producers.