Umami Bioworks partners with Nippon Barrier Free to launch AI-driven marine supplements in 19 markets
Umami Bioworks partners with Nippon Barrier Free to launch AI-driven marine supplements in 19 markets
Umami Bioworks partners with Nippon Barrier Free to launch AI-driven marine supplements in 19 markets
Umami Bioworks is expanding its reach in Japan through a new partnership with Nippon Barrier Free. The deal will bring cultivated marine supplements and cosmetics to markets across 19 countries. The company is also preparing to open its first AI-driven production facility in Japan later this year.
The collaboration aims to introduce animal-free ingredients, including a new anti-inflammatory supplement, while accelerating the development of lab-grown seafood for human consumption.
The first product under this partnership is an animal-free polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), part of Umami Bioworks’ Marine Radiance line. Known for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing benefits, the supplement targets consumers seeking alternatives to traditional seafood-based nutrition.
Nippon Barrier Free will handle sales and distribution of these ingredients, covering cosmetics and supplements in 19 markets. Meanwhile, Umami Bioworks is working with IntegriCulture to co-develop novel cosmetics, combining expertise in cellular agriculture and AI-driven production.
The company’s proprietary AI platform, Alkemyst, uses machine learning to optimise the growth of marine species in labs. This technology will support a new $10 million production facility planned for 2027, with an expected monthly output of 10-50kg of cultivated seafood. Before then, a smaller AI-optimised cell culture plant, developed with Maruha Nichiro, will open in Japan this year.
Umami Bioworks is also awaiting regulatory approval for human consumption of its cultivated seafood in the UK, US, and Singapore. In parallel, Mitsubishi Corporation, BluNori Japan, and BluNori Singapore are advancing their own cultivated marine products, including lab-grown bluefin tuna toro, with commercialisation targeted for 2026.
The partnership with Nippon Barrier Free will enable Umami Bioworks to supply cell-based marine ingredients for health, beauty, and wellness sectors. With production facilities in development and regulatory approvals pending, the company is positioning itself as a key player in Japan’s growing market for cultivated seafood and supplements. The first products, including PDRN, are set to launch soon under the Marine Radiance brand.
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