India’s alternative seafood firm SeaSpire introduces bioprinted plant-based snapper fillets

October 30th, 2022

The world was quick to embrace vegan burgers at first, at that was when rival companies rushed to offer the general public their vegan substitutes such as plant-based chicken. Now, to the delight of people seeking sustainable and cruelty-free food sources, plant-based seafood is the latest entrant to the market. The world of vegan seafood is nothing short of a treasure trove, with everything from bioprinted plant-based snapper to plant-based whitefish wholecuts. Now, an alternative seafood firm from India called SeaSpire will soon introduce a bioprinted plant-based snapper product in New Zealand and India.

As you've probably already guessed, vegan seafood is seafood that hasn't been produced using any animals. Because it is not associated with overfishing and ghost nets, it is better for the oceans and marine life. It can be used in several other dishes can all be made without using any animal products! Read on to know more about the exciting brand and what it offers people who look forward to vegan seafood.

A strategy to cease the hazards of overfishing

It is a widely known concern that overfishing as a result of increased seafood demand could lead to the extinction of some marine species. Moreover, overfishing can alter the size of the fish that are still present, as well as how they breed and how quickly they grow. When too many fish are removed from the ocean, an imbalance results that may damage the food web and result in the extinction of other crucial marine life, especially vulnerable species. This requires the world at large to accept sustainable food practices. It is exactly why plant-based seafood is the need of the hour.

At the same time, high amounts of mercury in seafood can have long-term negative health effects due to the increasing number of pollutants in the oceans. In order to address the issue at hand, Seaspire offers wholesome and nutrient-dense substitutes for seafood. Their brand also sells fish- free burger patties and fish-free nuggets in addition to whole-cut fish fillets.

Inception of SeaSpire

In India, SeaSpire creates and manufactures the first whole-cut fish fillet made from plants. Shantanu Dhangar and Varun Gadodia founded Seaspire, which creates plant-based seafood substitutes using cutting-edge technology, digital tools, and nutrient-rich plant-based ingredients. The company is developing an operational base in India to serve the APAC region and claims to be the first of its type to make bioprinted whole-cut whitefish goods in that area. According to SeaSpire, it focuses on technology that can replace inefficiencies in the production of seafood and is looking at the possibility of repurposing horticultural side streams to create feedstock for alternative seafood
wholecuts.

SeaSpire Founders share their insight on the lucrative brand

“We see green field opportunities when it comes to alt-seafoods in the largest seafood consuming regions like India and south-east Asia. We aim to drive category growth in this region with a range of healthy and delectable alt-seafood starting with our whole-muscle whitefish fillets,” said co-founder Shantanu Dhangar, in a press release.

“We need smart proteins and even a smarter production infrastructure to address sustainable food transition for future generations. Reducing supply chain stress, ingredient innovations and upcycling feedstock are supporting pillars for our success at SeaSpire,” affirmed co-founder Varun Gadodia.

Production and accessibility of products

The company is confident that in the future years, the Indian subcontinent will see a similar increase in demand for the alternative seafood sector as plant-based meat consumption there continues to develop. In New Zealand, they have their R&D headquarters. Beginning with plant-based whole-cut snapper fillets, the company will pilot-launch its first batch of plant-based seafood products in India and New Zealand over the coming months. It will also concentrate on developing an alternative seafood brand in the developing APAC markets, such as Singapore and Australia.

The company aims to introduce its plant-based whitefish wholecuts to the market in early 2023 and will showcase its products at Tomorrow's Protein Summit Sponsored by XPRIZE Foundation later this year.