Umami Bioworks unveils next-gen ALKEMYST, an AI foundation model transforming the seafood industry

UMAMI Bioworks, a technology company focused on sustainable seafood innovation, has announced the next-generation evolution of ALKEMYST, a domain-specific AI foundation model designed exclusively for the seafood industry. Initially developed to accelerate cell-cultivated seafood production, the latest version of ALKEMYST extends its capabilities to support the broader seafood value chain, including aquaculture, wild fisheries management, and seafood supply chains.

The AI model has been trained on an extensive dataset that includes public and proprietary marine genomics, metabolomics, and seafood sensory data, as well as a growing proprietary dataset comprising production process parameters and organoleptic attributes specific to seafood species. While originally intended to optimize cultivated seafood production, the shared biology between cellular and whole-animal systems has enabled ALKEMYST to be applied across multiple sectors, creating a more holistic approach to seafood innovation.

The seafood industry is facing increasing pressure, with over a third of global fish stocks being fished at biologically unsustainable levels and aquaculture costs rising due to escalating energy and feed prices. ALKEMYST addresses these challenges by leveraging its comprehensive datasets and domain-specific intelligence to support key stakeholders throughout the seafood value chain.

Among its applications, ALKEMYST enables precision formulation of aquaculture feeds that reduce environmental impact while improving growth rates and nutritional profiles. It identifies feed strategies and cellular mechanisms to enhance protein yield in both cultivated and conventional seafood. The model also facilitates biomarker-based modeling and selection to accelerate breeding programs for climate-resilient species, improving their adaptability to changing ocean conditions. It supports specialized algorithms for biomarker-based breeding and optimizing growing conditions for species transitioning to controlled-environment aquaculture. Additionally, it fine-tunes cell culture media formulations for various cultivated seafood species, enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Metabolic modeling allows for optimizing feed and growth conditions to enhance the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of seafood, providing a more authentic sensory experience. Finally, it accelerates the development of next-generation seafood products that align with evolving consumer preferences.

“This next-generation version of ALKEMYST is a huge step forward in AI-driven seafood innovation,” commented Mihir Pershad, CEO & Co-founder of Umami Bioworks. “We’ve expanded ALKEMYST beyond cultivated seafood, enabling businesses across the entire seafood value chain to make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. This is more than just an AI model – it is a transformative tool for the future of global seafood.”

Backed by major global investors – including Aqua-Spark, Maruha Nichiro, and Build Collective – UMAMI Bioworks continues to push the boundaries of AI and biotechnology to build a more intelligent and sustainable seafood ecosystem.