Norwegian company Pronofa is exploring innovative ways to make protein production more sustainable by transforming ciona, ocean-dwelling filter feeders also known as sea squirts, into a viable meat substitute. However, raising these invertebrates for human consumption has had its problems in the past.
Sea squirts are processed by Pronofa into a product with a flavor and texture close to that of beef without the need for any additives. The invertebrates have a natural seafood taste and a texture similar to calamari.
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Eating these creatures creates a much smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional livestock. Sea squirts are also nutritionally similar to conventional meats.
Sea squirts can also help clean the ocean as they feed. The creatures naturally pull out nitrogen and phosphorus from their marine environments.
Despite these advantages, there are challenges to scaling sea squirt farming. Mass die-offs have been reported at some farms due to parasites.
Experts say the problem is exacerbated by the low genetic diversity within farmed sea squirt populations. This vulnerability presents a potential barrier to long-term, large-scale production.
Despite this, Pronofa remains optimistic about the future of sea squirts in the food market. The company sees them as a promising option for sustainable protein rather than a fleeting trend.
[Jack]
THERE’S A PUSH TO TURN THESE OCEAN DWELLING CREATURES-
INTO BURGERS.
PRONOFA IS A NORWEGIAN COMPANY THAT’S BEEN LOOKING INTO NEW AND SUSTAINABLE SOURCES OF PROTEIN.
RECENTLY THEY’VE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH TURNING CIONA, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SEA SQUIRTS, INTO MINCE MEAT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
SEA SQUIRTS NATURALLY HAVE A SLIGHT SEAFOOD TASTE AND A TEXTURE REMINISCENT OF CALAMARI-
BUT, PROFONA PROCESSES THEIR MEAT IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT TASTE LIKE BEEF-
WITHOUT THE USE OF ANY ADDITIVES.
CONSUMING SEA SQUIRTS CREATES A MUCH SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINT THAN THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER PROTEIN SOURCES.
THEY HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUTRITIONAL VALUE AS TRADITIONAL MEATS-
AND THE ACT OF RAISING SEA SQUIRTS ALSO HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT, SINCE AS FILTER FEEDERS THEY HELP NATURALLY CLEAN THE OCEAN.
BUT CONSISTENTLY HARVESTING THESE ANIMALS FOR FOOD DOES HAVE ONE MAJOR CHALLENGE.
MASS DIE OFFS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT SOME SEA SQUIRT FARMS-
REPORTEDLY AS A RESULT OF PARASITES THAT WERE ABLE TO SO RAPIDLY KILL THESE INVERTABRATES BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW GENETIC DIVERSITY.
HOWEVER, COMPANIES LIKE PRONOFA ARE STILL HOPEFUL SEA SQUIRTS CAN ONE DAY BECOME A FOOD STAPLE-
RATHER THAN JUST ANOTHER SHORT-LIVED MEAT ALTERNATIVE.
FOR STRAIGHT AROW NEWS- I’M JACK AYLMER.
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