Akami by German start-up Kuleana is a plant-based tuna alternative that helps to address concerns that consumers have with the seafood industry such as overfishing, plastic pollution and health concerns—especially related to micro-plastics, mercury, bacteria and parasites. The plant-based alternative to blue fin tuna resembles real tuna fish yet it is made from ingredients like algae, seawater, koji and vegetable proteins that fuse traditional and unconventional processing technologies.
The plant-based tuna alternative was developed by Kuleana to "get tuna off the table" by offering a product that competes with the taste, cost and convenience of the real fish product. The plant-based fish product has the potential to be especially appealing to sushi and poke restaurants.
Image Credit: Kuleana
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Plant-based Seafood
- Opportunity for developing more plant-based alternatives to seafood due to consumer concerns with the seafood industry.
- Alternative Protein Sources
- Growing demand for alternative protein sources like plant-based tuna for health-conscious consumers.
- Sustainable Food Solutions
- Increasing need for sustainable food solutions that address issues like overfishing and plastic pollution.
Sectors Adopting This
- Food Manufacturing
- Opportunity for food manufacturers to develop and produce plant-based seafood alternatives to cater to consumer demand.
- Restaurant Industry
- Potential for sushi and poke restaurants to offer plant-based tuna alternative as a more sustainable and healthier option for their menus.
- Alternative Protein Industry
- Emerging industry focused on developing and producing alternative protein sources to meet the growing demand for plant-based options.
