The Inevitable Shift: Why Our Food System Needs a New Story: A Focus on Seafood

Heidi Spurrell | 23rd January 2025 | 4min read

FRESH – Agilent Workshop on Aquaculture Safety and Resilience

Our global food system, the one we’ve relied on for generations, is creaking under the weight of its own contradictions. It’s a story of plenty, yes, but also of fragility. We talk about feeding the world, yet we grapple with mycotoxins in our crops, supply chain disruptions, and the looming spectre of climate change. Traditional aquaculture, while vital, faces its own challenges: disease outbreaks, economic instability, and the relentless pressure on our oceans. It’s clear we’re not just dealing with isolated incidents, but with systemic flaws.

This isn’t about assigning blame; it’s about recognising a profound shift. A shift that requires us to rethink our relationship with food. Not as a commodity, but as a vital force in our survival and our planet’s well-being.

Prof. Chris Elliot, The four big drivers of changes to the global food system

Enter Cell-Based Seafood: A Complement, Not a Replacement

For a long time, I was sceptical. The idea of ‘lab-grown’ food seemed… well, sterile. But the conversation has changed. It’s not about some sci-fi fantasy, it’s about facing reality. Cell-based seafood isn’t designed to replace wild-caught or traditional aquaculture. It’s a complementary solution, a safety net for a world increasingly vulnerable. It’s about offering options and building resilience. This week I was invited to a workshop to explore the future of seafood…

Here’s why cell based seafood could contribute to the solutions we need:

• The Safety Net: Cell-based production significantly reduces the risks associated with traditional seafood, like disease and harmful toxins. It also allows for the careful management of bio-reactors, focusing on the safety aspects of production.

• Nutritional Control: We can now tailor seafood to be more nutritious, with higher levels of omega-3 and without allergens. We can also provide hormone-free options.

• Environmental Responsibility: This method reduces the pressure on our oceans, protects endangered species and minimises habitat destruction. It’s a path to sustainability that doesn’t depend on land use or traditional fishing.

• Ethical Considerations: By reducing our reliance on live animals and minimising animal testing, we align with a growing awareness of animal welfare.

• Economic Stability: Cell-based production allows for price differentiation and arbitrage, creating more market stability. It also allows for a cost-benefit analysis that factors in the value of avoiding negative externalities such as disease and allergies.

• Customer preference: Customers wanting to eat their favourite seafood may have the option to continue to do so if cell-based manages to scale, is affordable, if the taste is not distinguishable, if the reasons for it make sense eg species is at risk of extinction, and not possible to grow in aquaculture settings.

Advantages and solutions of cell-based seafood

It’s About More Than Just Food: It’s About a Mindset Shift

This isn’t just about a new production method. It’s about a fundamental shift in how we approach food. It’s about embracing the possibility of a more robust and resilient system. But we do need to educate industry and create enabling environments, it’s about:

• Industry Collaboration: The involvement of retailers, restaurants, and food service companies is critical. We will need them to include cell-based options once they become available and make them accessible to everyone.

• Clear Communication: We must drop the technical jargon. The focus should be on ‘healthy options’ emphasising the safety, nutritional benefits, and sustainable nature of cell-based seafood.

• Global Frameworks: We need globally agreed standards and harmonised regulations to ensure consistency in safety and quality. Collaboration with organisations such as the FAO, and WHO is crucial.

The Future is Not Fixed, It’s a Choice

The challenges are real: climate change, economic pressures, and the continuous disruptions to the supply chain. But these are not insurmountable problems. Cell-based seafood could offer a path to a more sustainable, resilient, and ethical food system. But it’s a choice, a deliberate shift, from the status quo.

The question isn’t whether we can do this. It’s whether we will.

It’s time to tell a new story about our food. One of resilience, innovation, and a genuine commitment to our planet and future generations.

Love it, hate it? Either way, exploring cell-based solutions provides options in a world increasingly marred by dwindling natural resources and the depletion of natural capital.

🚀 Join us at our annual flagship event!

This conversation doesn’t stop here. Prof. Chris Elliott, whose insights on the four big drivers of change shaped this discussion, will be our keynote speaker at this year’s UnConference 3.0 on 21st March. 

His topic? “2025 – The Year AI Meets Food.”

As we navigate the future of food, from aquaculture resilience to cell-based innovations, AI is set to play a pivotal role in shaping safer, more sustainable, and transparent food systems.

Don’t miss the chance to hear from one of the leading voices in food safety and innovation. 

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Together, we’re not just talking about a sustainable future; we’re building it. Let’s make every meal a story worth telling.

Stay green, stay inspired.

Future Green Team