BLUU and Cultivate at Scale launch Europe’s first industrial platform for cell-cultured marine ingredients

BLUU has launched what it described as Europe’s first industrial platform for cell-cultured marine ingredients through a partnership with Dutch biotech producer Cultivate at Scale, scaling its fish cell technology to 1,000-liter bioreactors and targeting personal care as its first commercial market.

• BLUU and Cultivate at Scale established a joint industrial platform in Maastricht to produce marine ingredients using cultivated fish cells at larger commercial volumes.
• The partners reported producing fish cells in 1,000-liter bioreactors for the first time, marking a new scale-up step for the technology.
• BLUU said the first applications would be in personal care, with healthcare and food remaining longer-term target markets.

The April 13 announcement brought together BLUU’s salmonid cell technology with Cultivate at Scale’s infrastructure and experience in scaling bioprocesses. The companies said the collaboration formed part of BLUU’s localized production strategy and supported its expansion beyond Germany.

BLUU contributed its technology for cultivating Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout cells, along with its expertise in marine cell systems. Cultivate at Scale provided the facilities and operational knowledge required to run production in large-volume bioreactors.

The companies said the objective was to produce fish cells at commercially relevant volumes. As part of the project, they reported producing cells in bioreactors with a capacity of 1,000 liters.

That scale builds on earlier developments at the Maastricht site. In June 2025, Cultivate at Scale partnered with Sartorius to install a 1,000-liter single-use bioreactor, expanding its ability to support companies moving from lab-scale work into pilot production. The facility was designed to give cellular agriculture companies access to both infrastructure and technical expertise as they scale.

For BLUU, the move also follows earlier efforts to develop end products. In July 2025, the company partnered with German ingredient specialist VAN HEES to develop hybrid seafood products combining cultivated fish cells with plant-based components, bringing together cell cultivation and food formulation expertise.

BLUU said the work in Maastricht demonstrated that its process could be transferred and operated outside its own facilities. The company added that the site would support ongoing production in the Netherlands while providing a base for further expansion across Europe.

The industrial setup is expected to support further development of the production process, particularly in improving cell growth and efficiency. BLUU said this would contribute to reducing costs over time and allow marine ingredients to be offered at prices suited to commercial markets. The company also linked the process to traceability and said it enabled production without animal suffering.

The first applications for the ingredients produced on the platform are expected to be in personal care. BLUU said marine-derived compounds are already widely used in this sector and offer a clear entry point for its technology.

“This joint project is a milestone in European cell cultivation and a significant step for us and it is a fine example of efficient German-Dutch cooperation,” said Jaco van der Merwe, Managing Director of Cultivate at Scale.

Dr Sebastian Rakers, BLUU CEO & Co-founder, said the company had focused on demonstrating that its technology could operate reliably under production conditions.

“This is an important breakthrough for BLUU. Not only can we produce the ingredient, but we also ensure that our cells are produced consistently in real production environments,” he said.

“Biotechnology is becoming increasingly important worldwide, and cell cultivation is a promising part of this. We have already impressively demonstrated our ability to grow fish cells in bioreactors in an ocean-friendly and animal-friendly manner in recent years. We are proud to be able to show that we can implement this on an ever-larger scale and serve our first market with personal care products.”

He added: “At the same time, we are delighted to have such a strong partner at our side with CaS. We are convinced that together we will create a sustainable production ecosystem.”

BLUU, founded in 2020 by Rakers and Simon Fabich, has focused on producing marine ingredients from cell cultures for use in personal care, healthcare, and food. The company operates from Hamburg and Berlin and employs 28 people from 12 countries.

Cultivate at Scale works with companies in cellular agriculture to scale and optimize production processes, providing access to infrastructure, equipment, and technical expertise. Its open-access model, developed after the facility’s origins as a pilot site for Mosa Meat, is designed to support a wide range of applications, including meat, fish, dairy, and other materials derived from cell culture.

The partnership combines BLUU’s cell technology with Cultivate at Scale’s production capabilities, with both companies working together to bring marine ingredients to larger-scale manufacturing in Europe.