Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. (“Toyo Seikan Group Holdings” Tokyo 5901; President: Takuji Nakamura) has invested in ImpacFat Pte. Ltd. (“ImpacFat”; Head Office: Singapore; CEO: Mandy Hon), a startup that develops functional ingredients from cultivated fat cells from fish, such as eels and imported pangasius catfish.ImpacFat is the world’s first company to develop cultivated omega-3 rich fish fat using stem-cell technology. As part of this investment, Toyo Seikan Group Holdings will collaborate with ImpacFat as a strategic partner to promote the practical applications of these functional ingredients in foods, supplements, and cosmetics.
ImpacFat is a startup that develops stem cell–derived cultured fish fat and was founded in 2022 by a research team from Singapore’s national research institution, A*STAR1. The omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in fish fat have been reported to have beneficial health, beauty, and anti-inflammatory effects, and ImpacFat’s cell culture technology is expected to enable stable production and supply. With the mission “To bring the healthiest and tastiest fish fat to every country in a sustainable manner,” the company aims to supply its products for food applications and as functional ingredients for the supplements and cosmetics markets.
1. Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research – A*STAR – is supervised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and is the nation’s leading public research institution, driving world-class R&D and talent development.
Since 2020, Toyo Seikan Group Holdings has invested in and collaborated with startups to develop novel foods, including cell-based foods, and to build next-generation value chains. Through R&D focused on fish fat, ImpacFat is advancing rapid and scalable cell culture technologies. Toyo Seikan Group Holdings has chosen A*STAR as the best strategic partner to move from the exploration of business opportunities to a proof-of-concept, resulting in this investment. This marks our second investment in a Singapore-based startup in the cell-based food sector, following an investment in Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd. (now Umami Bioworks Pte. Ltd.). Leveraging the expertise and networks we have built so far, we will accelerate our demonstration activities to promote the commercialization of cell-based fish fat ingredients and expand their applications. Our collaboration with ImpacFat will be multifaceted and will include raw material development, productization, and supply chain design.
Toyo Seikan Group launched the open innovation OPEN UP! PROJECT in 2019 to leverage the container technologies and know-how developed over its 100-year history in order to address social issues faced by individuals and to create a sustainable future. The Toyo Seikan Group will continue to tackle a range of social issues.