K A S H R U T . C O M_©

July 9, 2024 from NoCamels:

"Ofek Ron, co-founder and CEO of Israeli food tech company Oshi, believes we can do better – for the environment, for animals and for our health.

"So three years ago, the entrepreneurial long-time vegan and activist set out together with the company’s fellow co-founders — 3D printing expert Hila Elimelech, and Oshi’s current innovation lead Ariel Szklanny and director of food R&D Ron Sicsic — to create the world’s first plant-based fish filet with the taste and texture of the original.

"The company, formerly known as Plantish, selected salmon filets as its goal because of the fish’s popularity with consumers, Ron tells NoCamels. Ofek Ron: Oshi is ‘building’ salmon filets as you would build a Lego model (Photo: Courtesy)

"Ron says he realized that there was no fish alternative among the plant-based meat alternatives popping up, largely because the texture and structure of fish differs to that of meat.

"Therefore, unlike the relatively straightforward task of creating vegan burgers that mimic ground meat with ingredients like soy or mushrooms, the challenge of imitating the complex structure of fish filets presented a unique obstacle.

"Fish filets possess intricate layers of flakes and fat lines, each contributing to its unique texture and mouthfeel, Ron explains, and no one in the food tech industry had yet tackled the problem of replicating it with plant-based alternatives.

"t took the Oshi team three years of diligent, expert work on two fronts of research and development to create both the right texture and the right taste for the alternative salmon filet currently being market tested in 15 select restaurants across the USA.

"Their solution lay in mycoprotein, a mycelium-based protein that also provides micronutrients, complemented by algae and vegetable oils.

"This innovative blend not only mirrors the nutritional profile of fish but also replicates its texture through Oshi’s proprietary technology known as modular layering.

"Ron explains that the flakes and the fat of the fish are created using two different methods and then combined in the production process.

"The startup’s unique machinery meticulously constructs each filet, layer by layer of flakes and fat, ensuring an authentic fish-like experience.

"The company is now in the process of refining its product-market fit before expanding into retail sales, he says.

"The plant-based filets are a solution for an industry that Ron warns is taking an environmental toll on the marine ecosystem.

"Backed by $14.5 million in funding from investors and poised for further investment rounds, Oshi has relocated its production facility to California from its initial base in the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, which remains as the center of research and development.

"The company was also recently recognized as one of Israel’s top 50 promising startups of the year by Israeli tech website Calcalist, for its pioneering efforts in food tech.

"For now, the cost of the Oshi filet is equivalent to premium salmon filets from the Faroe Islands and Alaska, Ron says, with the price connected to the speed of the company’s production process.

"But as they systematically update and upgrade their machinery, he believes they will reach the optimum price in about three years.

"Rather than trying to recreate other existing kinds of fish, Ron says Oshi’s next goal is to create a new “species” of plant-based fish.

"This, the company maintains, will appeal not only to the environmentally aware consumer, but also those who like to try something completely new rather than something that merely imitates an existing product."