In today’s Japan, the challenges of rapidly declining population and super-aging society have prompted the promotion of “regional development,” in which each region is expected to realize an autonomous and
Tuna, which is familiar to Japanese people through sushi and sashimi, has recently become a popular food in the United States and other Asian countries. The consumption of fresh tuna overseas, which totaled just over 80,000 tons in 2007, increased to 150,000 tons in 2011.
In proportion to this growing demand, fish catches have also increased. According to a survey by the Fisheries Agency, the world’s total catch of skipjack and six major tuna species reached a record high of 5,315,000 tons in 2018. Meanwhile, illegal fishing and overfishing are rampant, and the depletion of fishery resources is becoming more serious. Furthermore, “bycatch,” the accidental capture of non-target species in longline and seine fishing, the main methods used to catch tuna, has a significant impact on the ecosystem.
In recent years, in response to overfishing, bycatch, and other illegal fishing practices, governments have set strict fishing quotas and restricted fishing activities, which has contributed to the high price of bluefin tuna. For example, toro sashimi, which is mainly served in upscale restaurants in Japan, is also served in high-end sushi restaurants around the world, but in some cases a kilo of toro sashimi can cost more than US$100.
While the development of alternative seafood is gaining momentum around the world to solve these various problems surrounding tuna, Israel, known as a “start-up great power,” has announced a new food ingredient that takes advantage of new technology.
Israeli start-up company Wanda Fish announced on March 20, 2024, that it has developed the company’s first “farmed bluefin tuna toro sashimi.” If this prototype can provide a consistent, safe, quality, and sustainable supply of bluefin tuna, it will be able to meet the rapidly increasing demand for bluefin tuna.
Raw toro is the underbelly of the fish and has the highest fat content and omega-3 levels. This gives it a unique fatty flavor and makes it the most tender and desirable fish meat. The same characteristics as these natural toro sashimi are found in the cell-cultured toro sashimi at Wanda Fish. They are equally rich in nutritional value, especially protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Wanda Fish’s cell-cultured 3D fillets combine muscle and fat cell mass made from the bluefin tuna’s own cells with a plant-derived matrix. In manufacturing the product, the company uses a patent-pending technology to induce the formation of natural fat in bluefin tuna cells. The hole-cutting process then employs a production method that is quick, low-cost, and easily expandable. The fat formed by the proprietary technology is said to give not only a texture similar to that of the original toro, but also a rich flavor and essential nutrients, including omega-3.
The cell-cultured bluefin tuna, explained co-founder and CEO Dr. Daphna Heffetz, “contains no microplastics, mercury, or other chemical toxins that are very common in wild fish.” It is also a safe alternative seafood, as Malkiel Cohen, vice president of research and development, says, “We have recreated the essence of a raw fish fillet without preservatives, artificial additives, or GMOs.
In Israel, where Asian cuisine is very popular, sushi restaurants and sushi bars are opening one after another. It is said that there are as many as 300 restaurants serving sushi to a population of approximately 7 million people.
Wanda Fish is focusing on Japanese cuisine and hopes to introduce cell-cultured bluefin tuna first in the upscale food service sector. Alternative seafood that is comparable in taste and texture to its natural counterpart is an attractive product in the food business. At the same time, it would protect fish and shellfish and reduce the risk of extinction. In Japan, such foodstuffs may become a new option in the future.
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[Reference Site] Fisheries Agency: Tuna Fisheries and Resource Survey
[Reference Site] Wanda Fish Unveils Its First Cell-Cultivated Bluefin Tuna Toro Sashimi
[Reference Site] Kikkoman Corporation：”Sushi Contest” in Middle East Israel
