Cell4Food, a deep tech biotechnology startup and spin-off from the University of Porto, has secured €1.5 million in funding to support the development of a project focused on the creation of sustainable, cell-cultured seafood.
The funding was awarded through the Research and Development Incentive System (SIID) program under Portugal 2030, according to an announcement by the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP).
The investment is intended to accelerate research and technological innovation in cellular aquaculture, with the company’s initial work centered on octopus cells.
Cell4Food is developing hybrid products designed to replicate the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of conventional octopus, while offering an alternative to traditional seafood production methods.
Founded in 2022, Cell4Food operates as a B2B company with a licensing-based business model, developing cellular agriculture technologies for food industry partners across fish, mollusc, and crustacean applications.
The company combines marine cell lines, tailored growth media, and bioreactor systems to produce seafood biomass through cellular aquaculture.
The production process begins with non-invasive biopsies, followed by cell isolation from animal tissues, cell expansion and duplication in bioreactors, and harvesting and processing for use in final food products.
According to Cell4Food, producing seafood in controlled environments can offer advantages in sustainability, food safety, scalability, affordability, and animal welfare when compared with conventional aquaculture.
The company highlights innovation, sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity as core principles guiding its research and operations, with a focus on ethical science practices, reduced environmental impact, and accurate communication.
Cell4Food was co-founded by a team combining senior-level, interdisciplinary technical and management expertise.
The founding team includes Vítor Verdelho, who serves as executive board member and CEO, Maria Miguel Pinho, executive board member and CLO, José Espírito Santo, non-executive board member and CFO, João Monteiro, COO, Luís Marques, CMO, and Alberto Dias, scientific advisor.
The funding comes amid growing global interest in cellular agriculture. The global cellular agriculture market was valued at $226.23 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $545.36 million by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 15.79%, according to recent market estimates.
Growth in the sector is being driven by advances in biotechnology and bioprocessing, increased investment in alternative protein research, and rising demand for food production methods with lower environmental impact.
At the same time, the industry continues to face challenges related to production costs, access to specialized inputs, and supply chain constraints, particularly at scale. Despite these challenges, continued industry interest, expanding research infrastructure, and growing academic involvement support expectations of continued growth in the cellular agriculture sector.
Featured image: Cell4Food CEO Vítor Verdelho (right) and CTO Filipa Soares at Web Summit Lisbon 2025 (Photo courtesy of Cell4Food/LinkedIn)
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