Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has announced the CAD$1.9 million Scaling-up Alternative Seafood Manufacturing Project to produce Canada’s first-ever plant-based whitefish fillet led by Profillet. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $750,000, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.
Halifax-based Profillet makes alternative seafoods from microalgae. The company said its product, created using marine-derived ingredients and cutting-edge food science, authentically replicates the taste, texture, and nutrition of traditional whitefish while delivering major environmental and health benefits. The company said it also directly addresses critical ocean sector issues, including overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution caused by conventional fishing and aquaculture practices.
Profillet is partnering with Ardra–which makes fermented food ingredients from sugar; Mara Renewables, which makes fish-free omega-3 fatty acids from a marine microalgal strain; and RONDO North America that produces machines and systems for the production of pastry, bread and all types of baked goods.
“People want seafood, but there is simply not enough of it, and what is available is getting more expensive all the time,” said Steve George, Co-Founder, Profillet. “Profillet’s plant-based fish can fill this massive demand gap (and by extension a massive nutrition gap) with a product that gives the same nutrition as fish, the same taste as fish, but at a price that is widely accessible.”
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent.
“By bringing together partners from across the country to create Canada’s first plant-based whitefish fillet, Profillet is not only advancing sustainable food systems but also helping to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing our oceans,” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “This is a significant step forward in building a stronger, more resilient ocean economy, that delivers environmental, economic, and global leadership benefits for Canada.”
