The demand for real caviar has increased significantly in recent years, leading to prices of 50 euros or more per hundred grams. This is due to the expensive production process, which involves raising sturgeon in aquaculture for at least 15 years before harvesting their eggs. However, companies like Caviar Biotec and Magiccaviar are now developing ethical alternatives to traditional caviar. Caviar Biotec has created a fish-free caviar made from proteins and lipids produced in a bioreactor, while Magiccaviar is working on lab-grown caviar from sturgeon cells. These products are expected to hit the market this year, and could become a new status symbol for the financially elite.
According to a study published in Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, the global demand for real caviar has risen sharply in recent years. This luxury food item is now sold for 50 euros or more per hundred grams, due to the expensive and time-consuming production process. While most caviar is now obtained from farmed sturgeon, these fish must still be raised for at least 15 years before their eggs can be harvested. In response to these challenges, companies like Caviar Biotec and Magiccaviar are developing ethical alternatives to traditional caviar.
Caviar Biotec has created a fish-free caviar made from proteins and lipids produced in a bioreactor. This “clean” caviar product does not require any fish to be killed, and is made from a cell- and animal-free protein powder. The company plans to release this product to the market later this year, and is also working on lab-grown caviar from sturgeon cells. Similarly, Magiccaviar has developed an artificial ovary in which sturgeon eggs can be grown from stem cells. These products have the potential to become a new status symbol for the financially elite, as ethical eating becomes increasingly important in high society.
