Iceland's Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, and First Gentleman of Iceland, Björn Skúlason, pictured at the Iceland Ocean Cluster event.
Photo: ORF Genetics.
Last week, Iceland Ocean Cluster hosted a special event marking the debut of cultivated shellfish meat outside of Asia.
The event showcased products developed by South Korean biotech firm Cellmeat, which has been producing cultivated meat since 2019. The cell-cultured shellfish products featured were developed using Iceland-based ORF Genetics' MESOkine growth factor technology, derived from bioengineered barley, which the Icelandic biotech firm says is designed to help cultivated meat producers lower their costs and scale production.
Attendees at the showcase event included the First Gentleman of Iceland, Björn Skúlason, and the Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, with South Korean chef Jinyoung Park preparing the dishes.
“I am very pleased to introduce our products in Iceland through our collaboration with ORF Genetics. In the era of responding to climate change, for cell-cultured foods to become widely adopted by the public, they must not only excel in fundamental aspects like taste but also provide economic efficiency and environmental value," said Giljun Park, CEO and Founder of Cellmeat, in a press release.
"Iceland, with its advanced technology and innovative policies such as reducing carbon emissions and maximizing renewable energy production, is a leading country that perfectly aligns with our vision. I look forward to the growth of Cellmeat through developing our collaboration with ORF Genetics and to seek further opportunities in Iceland," Park added.
Iceland has previously shown support for innovation in the alternative and cultivated proteins sector, having hosted one of Europe's first cultivated meat tasting events in February 2024, also featuring an ORF Genetics collaboration, this time with Australian firm Vow.
The 2024 event was attended by Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who stated at the time that "The Icelandic authorities are determined to pave the way for the adoption of new solutions in Iceland and we are eager to see the development of an EU regulatory framework for cultivated meat.”
