Steakholder Foods Ltd., a leader in cultivated meat and 3D bioprinting technology, announced this week that it has further expanded its 3D-printing capabilities with the world's first plant-based, 3D-printed shrimps. Designed to mimic the authentic texture and flavor of conventional shrimps, the shrimps were precision-printed on Steakholder Foods’ proprietary DropJet printer, designed for fish and seafood printing, using shrimp-flavored ink developed by Steakholder Foods’ food technology team.

Shrimp is the latest addition to the company’s portfolio of printed seafood products to be offered to potential customers, on a plant (analogue) or potentially hybrid (combination plant and cultivated) basis, as economies of scale develop to enable price-competitive cell development.

The shrimp market is worth more than $60 billion, and is projected to continue growing substantially over the coming decade. With 7.6 million tons of shrimp harvested in 2023, Steakholder Foods’ heavy-duty production printing solution aims to provide partners and customers with the means to meet growing demand through high-volume, efficient, and sustainable production, offering a practical and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional shrimp farming.

“By unveiling a second new species of plant-based, 3D-printed seafood this month, we expect to position Steakholder Foods to sell and deliver its first DropJet printer in 2024, offering partners and customers a unique opportunity to benefit from the expanding global seafood market, while making the right kind of impact on the environment,” said Arik Kaufman, chief executive officer of Steakholder Foods.