SimpliiGood, a brand by AlgaeCore Technologies, Ltd., will begin commercial production of a plant-based smoked salmon analog composed of spirulina microalgae.

The company is backed by $4 million in new funding and received clearance in the EU to market the seafood analog as a non-novel ingredient. The company already has pilot facilities in Europe and Israel.

With the launch of its full-scale industrial manufacturing line, the company has transitioned to commercial output of its texturized fresh spirulina, branded Simplii Texture. The company will be able to produce hundreds of tons of its spirulina ingredient per year, helping to meet demand for its novel smoked salmon analog.

AlgaeCore began as a cultivator and enricher of food- and supplement-grade spirulina for B2B and B2C product makers, food service, and retailers. The company then expanded into the food technology arena where it used its raw material as a texturizer. Its platform can transform fresh spirulina into a range of fish alternatives that are rich in protein, sustainable, and nutritious.

“No complex and expensive equipment, such as 3D printers or extrusion equipment are required to craft our texturized protein,” said Baruch Dach, CTO and co-founder of AlgaeCore. “Our fresh, undried spirulina and a few natural ingredients are combined and passed through a machine that resembles a pasta roller to produce our spirulina-based smoked salmon in a simple process.”

AlgaeCore’s facility is primed to produce dozens of tons of texturized spirulina over the next few months. Each kilogram of Simplii Texture can be used to create 3-4 kg of its plant-based, clean-label smoked salmon alternative.

The company’s technology to create the salmon analog includes a decolorization technology to separate green chlorophyll from the spirulina. This antioxidant- and micronutrient-rich pigment is redirected into supplements or as a natural food colorant. The salmon replica’s pink hue is expressed through the remaining carotenoid pigment naturally present in spirulina.

SimpliiGood’s texturizing technology consolidates the remaining mass into a high-moisture texturized vegetable protein, resulting in a texture similar to real smoked salmon, with a good nutritional profile.

The finished analog has up to a 70% protein content and contains nutrients like iron and beta-carotene. The spirulina content can be tailored to meet the client’s preferences, comprising 40-100% of the end product. Other ingredients include rice flour, tapioca, oil, and spices.

Algaecore’s solution can plug into most traditional production lines, making it easy for food manufacturers to branch into alternative protein production or to reformulate existing product lines with spirulina.

“With overfishing of salmon at a crisis point, our spirulina-based smoked salmon analog is ready for commercial roll-out,” states Lior Shalev, AlgaeCore CEO and co-founder. “Our creation embodies the same look, mouthfeel, and great flavor as real salmon. It is already receiving outstanding reviews and traction, demonstrating genuine market share potential. Simplii Texture has gained regulatory approval in Europe as a non-novel ingredient and completed the pilot phase. Production is up to scale the ingredient is currently in the process of securing US-FDA approval.”

Simplii Texture is currently in pilot trials with a number of food manufacturers in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, and Israel. The company expects that the first private label products will reach retail shelves within the next six months.

AlgaeCore cultivates its spirulina in ponds housed in greenhouses in the southern desert region of Israel. More than 98% of the water used in the process is recycled. It grows rapidly and in abundance, with a harvest every 24 hours.

In 2023, AlgaeCore partnered with the Haifa Group to optimize its ready-to-use nutrient mixtures for commercial spirulina cultivation. This collaboration is proving to be instrumental in reducing spirulina costs and fortifying AlgaeCore’s supply chain. So far, the company has raised more than $19 million in seed funds, with investment coming from NFX, as well as a recent $4 million innovation grant from the Israel Innovation Authority.