Singapore-based cultivated-seafood firm Umami Bioworks has partnered with US firm Friends & Family Pet Food Co. (FnF) to create lab-grown fish treats for cats, reports Just Food. 

Claimed to be a world first, these treats are slated for a showcase at the end of the year, with a commercial launch planned for early 2025 in Singapore and California.

Umami Bioworks has expressed confidence in meeting their Q1 2025 launch timeline, citing advanced discussions with regulators in both target markets. "Given the advanced stage of our discussions and our dossier preparation, we are confident in our Q1 2025 timeline for launch," the company stated.

"Our collaboration with Friends & Family is a genuine testament to the commercial potential of cultivated seafood in transforming pet nutrition and, ultimately, human food systems. These novel cat treats embody our mission to provide high-quality, sustainable protein sources while alleviating the ecological pressure on our oceans," said Umami CEO Mihir Pershad.

Earlier this year, Umami Bioworks merged with Shiok Meats, a fellow Singapore-based cultivated-protein business, to form a "cultivated seafood platform."

The merger aims to bring cell-based seafood to market in the region, starting with eel by early 2025. By the time of the merger, Umami had raised around $4 million from backers, while Shiok had secured just under $30m.