Shiok Meats
About
Shiok Meats Group CEO, Chairman and co-founder Dr Sandhya Sriram and Group CTO and co-founder Ka Yi Ling founded the company in 2018. Both are scientists by training and education and leveraged their background in biotechnology and stem cell biology to develop climate-resilient, sustainable, and scalable biotech-based foods and ingredients.
The company uses technology to grow slaughter-free seafood from cells instead of animals. Currently, the company produces crustaceans like shrimps, crabs, and lobsters and is the first in the world to do so using cellular agriculture technology. As a result, their real seafood and meat products have the same flavours without irreversible harm to the environment.
Type of actor
Cultivated crustacean meat company
Investment type
Private and public (endorsed and supported by the Singaporean government).
Operates in
Singapore (headquarters), Thailand and Australia
Sectors
Food technology
Approach
Shiok Meats uses its cellular agriculture technology to grow the cells of select seafood and meat in nutrientrich environments and controlled conditions. By growing cultivated seafood, Shiok Meats provides an alternative to conventional seafood farming. In doing so it curbs blue carbon emissions from mangrove deforestation.
As an innovative food solution, Shiok Meats aims to strengthen food supply and security and help conserve mangroves while reducing blue carbon (carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems) emissions from mangrove deforestation.
As novel food is a relatively new industry, Shiok Meats works with various educational organisations, schools and colleges, library boards, non-government organisations, and university career centres to draw attention to the urgency of producing food sustainably and encouraging men and women alike to become a part of the mission. Talent supply in STEM remains a challenge, and Shiok Meats is committed to continue its outreach to bring in more talent. Additionally, Shiok Meats has an all-women C-suite and gender-balanced representation in its workforce. Shiok Meats’ gender lens investors include AiiM Partners, Envisioning Partners and Mindshift Capital Fund.
Impact
Shiok Meats showcased the world’s first cultivated shrimp prototype in 2019, lobster prototype in 2020, and crab prototype in 2021. They are working towards feeding the expected 10 billion population by 2050 as their wider impact ambitions include future-proofing our food supply and strengthening global food security through their products.
“By growing cultivated seafood, Shiok Meats provides an alternative to conventional seafood farming. In doing so it curbs blue carbon emissions from mangrove deforestation.”
They are also mentoring new start-ups and individuals committed to growth and sustainability in the cultivated seafoods and meats space.
Key takeaways
Co-founder Ka Yi has observed a preponderance of women’s leadership in the cultivated meat space, with no lack of women’s representation, and has met many women founders in the alternative protein space which is not so common in other sectors. For both founders, it is important to invest in and advise others in the cultivated meat production space in order to share best practices and help to grow the industry.
What’s next?
Shiok Meats is now working on various animal-free growth factors, food grade media, and plant-based alternatives that have the potential to yield at scale and at lower price points. Some of these products are being developed in-house while others leverage strategic partnerships. Shiok Meats is also exploring the upcycling of by-products and cell media for flavouring mixes and essences.
Currently, it is ramping up the construction of its pilot production facility in Singapore to speed up large-scale manufacturing and launch in at least one premium restaurant in 2023. The pilot plant will enable Shiok Meats to get a full view of the product lifecycle and more accurately assess the cost of production and other raw materials, readying it for commercialisation. The pilot plant will also demonstrate to regulators the comprehensiveness of safety and quality adherence to produce for a wider market.