Start-up company Yemoja debuts first red microalgae for meat applications

Marine ingredient start-up company Yemoja has developed the first red microalgae discovery for medium-rare plant-based burger and steak applications. 

The new formulation, branded Ounje which means “food” in the Yoruba language, mimics the red juices of real meat that adds authentic “bloody” juiciness without the need for artificial colour additives. 

Yemoja operates an indoor system for cultivating high-value, pure and standardised microalgae bio compounds serving the nutraceutical and cosmetics B2B sectors.

The company discovered that this marine ingredient, when combined with other derivatives from this same Porphyridium strain of algae, can provide a nutrient-packed medium for plant-based alternative meats.

Amikam Bar-Gil, PhD, co-founder and CTO of Yemoja, said: “While working on a new formulation for cosmetic applications, we serendipitously discovered that this specific composition yields a substance that resembles blood in appearance and texture. Encouraged by the first test results, we decided to push the boundaries further and take it to the next level, trying it out in test products. The results were an immediate proof of concept.”

The start-up is currently piloting its microalgae ingredient with one plant-based start-up and another cultured meat producer.

According to the company, reported results so far have been highly promising.