U.Porto spin-off chosen to join European food sustainability programme
Cell4Food joined the EIT Food Accelerator Network, a European programme that drives innovative start-ups focused on building a more sustainable food system
Cell4Food, a spin-off from the University of Porto dedicated to cellular agriculture applied to the food sector, has been selected to join the EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN), a prestigious European accelerator programme that supports innovative startups in developing solutions for a more sustainable and safe food system.
Participation in this programme represents a strategic step for the Portuguese company, as it provides access to a vast network of industrial partners, research centres, and European investors. Over the next 2 to 3 months, Cell4Food will benefit from specialised mentoring, support for technological validation, definition of the business model, and preparation for market entry. Startups will also have the opportunity to present their projects at a pitch event and may receive up to €50.000 in funding.
Cell4Food will be part of the Paris hub dedicated to New Ingredients and Bioprocessing, a core area of the company's research and development. This involvement will strengthen Cell4Food's visibility in the European food innovation ecosystem and accelerate the advancement of its technology.
Founded in 2022, Cell4Food was created with the aim of developing ethical and sustainable alternatives to traditional fish production. The company is a world pioneer in creating food based on octopus cells, and is now expanding its approach to other marine species such as fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Its technology is based on the BlueCell platform, which consists of three essential components: the development of specific cell lines, the formulation of adapted culture media, and the use of bioreactors to produce cell biomass. This process culminates in the creation of innovative food products based on animal cells.
With laboratories located in Angra do Heroísmo (Terinov), Braga (IB-S, University of Minho) and Oeiras (Taguspark), Cell4Food continues to establish itself as an emerging reference in European food biotechnology, with a value proposition based on innovation, sustainability, and a positive impact on the sector.
