Contact
  • HOME
  • / MEDIA /
  • Three Cal Students Launch Plant-Based, Sushi-Grade Tuna to Pave the Way for Seafood Sustainability

Stories

July 30, 2023

SHARE:

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident today. This is why three visionary individuals came together to address one pressing issue: the unsustainable practices in our food system, particularly regarding seafood.

Kelly Pan, Adrian Miranda, and Stephanie Claudino Daffara, the founders of Impact Food, combined their diverse expertise and unwavering commitment to create a positive impact.

Driven by a shared passion for food innovation and ocean sustainability, they embarked on a journey to revolutionize the concept of seafood. Through meticulous research and cutting-edge technology, by studying the composition of animal-based seafood and leveraging their knowledge in food science and molecular biology, they developed their first product, Impact Tuna.

With Impact Food, Kelly, Adrian, and Stephanie strive to redefine the way we approach food. By choosing plant-based seafood, individuals not only enjoy a delectable culinary experience but also contribute to a healthier future for our planet, our oceans, and ourselves.

Read through as we learn more about the remarkable journey of Impact Food and its founders, Kelly, Adrian, and Stephanie, through an exclusive interview with Asian Hustle Network.

IMPACT FOOD’S DYNAMIC FOUNDER TRIO

In January 2020, we met while studying at UC Berkeley in renowned scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Ricardo San Martin’s Alternative Meat Challenge Lab, a product-design-based entrepreneurship course that examines how food is made and why alternative meats are a key solution to creating a more sustainable food system.

A passionate foodie-business student (Kelly), a vegan home chef-computer science student (Stephanie), and a scientist-biochemistry student (Adrian) found each other and decided to combine their fields of expertise to work towards a shared passion for food innovation and ocean sustainability. 

REDEFINING SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY

We were inspired by the innovative solutions we saw in terrestrial meat products like beef and chicken, and the science behind creating them. As we brainstormed in class for a protein alternative that could become the center of the plate, we realized that seafood was a wide white space in dire need of new solutions.

With an ever increasing global population, the conventional seafood industry (e.g. commercial fishing and aquaculture) continues to overfish and deplete our oceans but is still unable to keep up with rising seafood demand. 90% of fish stocks have been used up, and we’re rapidly losing biodiversity and destroying marine ecosystems which support all life on our planet, so we need to take action now before it is too late.

This is when we knew we were on a mission to reimagine a more sustainable food system through delicious and nutritious seafood created using plants and scientific innovation. Through Impact Food, we would be able to do our part in alleviating pressure on our oceans and transform our global food system to be better for our people, planet, and animals.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES IN PLANT-BASED SEAFOOD INNOVATION

At Impact Food, one of our core values is “Delicious Innovation” – to always develop the tastiest, high-quality food.

All seafood species have a very unique, complex taste and texture profile, so we knew that it would be challenging to recreate the sensory experience of conventional seafood. To overcome the challenge of developing realistic seafood texture, we focused heavily on R&D and consulted with industry experts from chefs to scientists and seafood purveyors to truly understand the composition of fish. This knowledge combined with a lot of experimentation allowed us to match the subtle ocean flavor, nutritional profile, and delicate texture of species like bluefin tuna.

Another challenge we faced was scaling our proprietary seafood texturization technology. We were very fortunate to bring on a talented bioprocess engineer last fall, who helped us scale our process and significantly accelerate our commercialization timeline.

IMPACT FOOD’S UNIQUE SEAFOOD PRODUCTION PROCESS

The process of making our first flagship product (raw sushi-grade Impact Tuna) began with extensively studying the scientific composition of seafood and developing a proprietary production process using plants and biotechnology.

Our novel food technology platform relies on our unique texturization process that optimizes and transforms our seafood base (a blend of plant ingredients such as pea protein, algae, & vegetable juice) into a whole-muscle structured seafood product.

In addition to completely removing animal fish from the seafood supply chain, our plant-based seafood is a more sustainable food choice that can always be consistently supplied with exceptional quality. Due to supply chain volatility, the quality and pricing of animal-based seafood products are constantly in a state of uncertainty and harm the entire food system. 

Therefore, we developed a craveable, true replacement for sushi-grade tuna with under 10 plant ingredients and a longer shelf life than conventional tuna. Our product is also high in omega 3, protein, fiber, and potassium with none of the negative consequences such as overfishing and mercury contamination.

IMPACT FOOD’S EFFORTS IN RAISING AWARENESS

Since food is a very social and cultural experience, we realized that we needed to collaborate with the food service industry to reinvent the seafood consumption experience while remaining authentic to traditional cuisines.

Restaurants, chefs, and cafeterias (e.g. corporate and college campuses) play a critical role in introducing customers to new culinary experiences, encouraging trial, and familiarizing them with plant-based seafood and its benefits. By adding these sustainable options to their menus, they are also able to influence a wider audience and drive market demand for seafood alternatives.

Recently, we launched Impact Tuna in Southern California at Pokeworks and became the first fish-free seafood ever offered at the world’s leading poke chain with 65+ locations across the US and internationally. Pioneering this novel dining experience with Pokeworks is a major step for us in creating large-scale demand for sustainable eating and bringing plant-based seafood to the masses.

In addition to our food service partnerships, we also utilize channels such as social media to raise awareness about the benefits of plant-based seafood. Although we only sell our plant-based seafood ingredients to food service, we still prioritize connecting with end consumers via the visual and informational content we share on channels such as Instagram and TikTok.

Recent media coverage about the unsustainable and inhumane practices involved in commercial fishing such as the Seaspiracy documentary has also been immensely helpful in generating awareness about an obscure and complex seafood industry.

SCALING WITH QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CARE

We have begun commercial production and are currently building out our own manufacturing pilot plant to ensure high-quality control and consistency of our food innovations.

Because our proprietary process can use standard equipment that is traditionally used in other industries, we can reach price parity with conventional seafood and scale to high volumes very quickly. We are continuously investing our resources into R&D and optimizing our supply chain so that we can constantly innovate, and maintain product quality while scaling our production.

To meet increasing market demand while ensuring the quality and sustainability of our products as we scale in the US and soon internationally, we are also building strategic partnerships with and collaborating with other companies (e.g. foodservice distributors, suppliers, restaurants, startups, etc.) to strengthen the ecosystem for sustainable protein solutions. Together, we’ll be able to develop and scale products with better taste, texture, and nutritional value.

IMPACT FOOD’S FUTURE OF DELICIOUS PLANT-BASED SEAFOOD

Our primary driver at Impact Food is to make a positive global impact by creating a future of food that can sustainably feed the world while protecting our oceans and marine life.

We strive to create a global impact and movement of consumers eating more consciously and sustainably. To do this, we need to make our innovations available and accessible everywhere our consumers eat, around the globe.

Today, we’re excited to continue scaling our production, onboard more food service partners, and expand distribution to major markets for seafood such as Japan. Our goal is to reconstruct the center of the plate with a new, tastier whole-muscle seafood experience that is healthier for you and the planet without harming any animals.

Impact Tuna is just the beginning, and we’re excited to leverage our seafood technology platform to expand our product pipeline and recreate various other seafood species using plants. Stay tuna’ed and join us on our voyage to revolutionize the global seafood system. 

CONNECT WITH IMPACT FOOD

Website: eatimpactfood.com

Linkedin: Impact Food

Tiktok: @eatimpactfood

Instagram: @eatimpactfood

Facebook: Impact Food

Twitter: @eatimpactfood

Related Articles

Founder photo 2-jpeg

Stories

These Sisters Infuse Chinese Cultural Aesthetics in Designer Womenswear

SHUMINGYU is an esteemed designer womenswear brand that finds its roots in the poetic essence of Chinese art.

Alvina Ding and Laura Ding, the talented sister team behind the brand, have embarked on a remarkable venture to preserve and interpret the artistic lineages of China through the medium of fashion.

With their deep personal connection to their heritage as second-generation Chinese Americans, their brand serves as a heartfelt expression of their cultural journey and a platform to share the cultural memories passed down through generations. The name SHUMINGYU holds great significance, as it pays tribute to the profound Chinese saying “落叶归根”, which invokes the powerful imagery of autumn leaves falling towards their roots, returning to the soil that once nurtured it.

Throughout history, Chinese artists have expressed their poetic selves through various art forms such as painting and poetry. SHUMINGYU draws inspiration from this legacy. Alvina, as the designer, and Laura, in charge of marketing, collaborate to create a collection that captures the elegant beauty inherent in Chinese aesthetics.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Hustle Network, Alvina and Laura walked us through their journey of preserving Chinese artistic lineages through fashion.

WHAT INSPIRED THEM TO CREATE SHUMINGYU

Alvina and Laura: We always had a passion for Chinese culture. As Chinese Americans, we were fortunate to grow up in a household that gave us exposure to the beauty of the culture such as its poetry and the arts, despite not being able to visit that often.

The fact that we were physically removed from the country of our cultural heritage, in many ways enabled us to appreciate the culture even more. We spent the next decade in between the U.S. and China, completing our undergraduate degrees in Beijing, kickstarting our early professional careers, and finishing graduate school in the U.S. It was during this time that the idea for SHUMINGYU was conceptualized. 

Alvina: The idea for SHUMINGYU was first planted in my mind in college, where I was formally introduced to the canon of Chinese artistic lineages as a Chinese art history major. I thought it was odd that despite the breadth and nuances of Chinese aesthetics that were crystalized over thousands of years, it was rarely reflected in modern fashion products. To me, culture should not be relegated to a museum. It has meaning only when it is a part of one’s daily life. While I was studying fashion design at Parsons and Laura was in business school, we began to turn this idea into reality. I want this type of beauty to be seen, not only in rarified spaces such as classrooms and museums but by more people through a medium such as fashion that can be a part of our everyday lives. This fuels me as a fashion designer. 

HOW SELF-DISCOVERY INFLUENCED THEIR AESTHETIC AND VISION

During our young adult years living between China and the U.S., we came to understand that identity is multifaceted.

There isn’t one way to be American, Chinese, or Chinese American. Cultural identity and heritage are not limited by where you were born or what period you are living in. It is something that is constantly evolving, passed down through generations, and shaped by the people who are currently living and breathing it.

This motivated us to combine the cultural fluency we gained over the years with design as a universal language to create SHUMINGYU. This is our way of sharing our perspectives on the beauty of Chinese aesthetics and the artistic lineages that have come before us with a global audience.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Alvina: I first decide on a particular theme, which is either a genre of Chinese art or a type of craft. Then I dive into research on the theme for a month or two. I read academic papers and art history books to understand the significance of this kind of genre, the elements that influenced its formation, what type of art it had an impact on later, its philosophical underpinnings, where the colors come from, and literary references. I look at the most representative pieces of art from the genre and identify the most distinctive characteristics that will define the overall feel of the collection.

During this process, I am looking at art objects that have graced the courts of emperors, the gaze of connoisseurs, and the hands of skilled artisans. From the free-spirited brushwork of ink paintings, the rhythmic flow of poetry, and the delicate luster of ceramics, all of this informs my final design decisions.

As I do the research, I see designs in my head. I visualize the images and colors and capture what I see into sketches, which I then translate into prints. Once I finish my prints, I think about what silhouettes they would work best on. From then on, it’s about deciding what fabrics work best for each design and seeing how different designs fit together into an overall collection.

SHOWCASING CULTURAL HERITAGE INTO THEIR DESIGNS

Each of our collections has a specific theme, and then we incorporate that theme into the custom prints that we develop, as well as the silhouettes of our designs. For example, our first collection ‘Of Blue Mountain and Verdant Forests’ was designed around the theme of Chinese landscape paintings. Therefore, each custom print that we developed is rooted in a piece of artwork, literature, or philosophy that is connected to landscape paintings. Our hope is that with each piece a customer wears, they can discover a new piece of culture.

Example 1:

The print of our Brushwork Dress is inspired by a brush stroke technique from the Southern Song Dynasty landscape painting The Joy of Harvest. Developed by the painter Li Tang from the Northern Song dynasty, the technique is called the “axe-cut stroke” and uses angular, staccato brushstrokes to depict the rocky surfaces of mountain peaks. The brush stroke derives its name from its visual resemblance to chopped wood and is one of two major brush strokes used to depict the texture of rocks in landscape paintings. The color of the dress is inspired by the golden brown hue of the painting scroll and the style lines are outlined in the shape of mountain ranges. The skirt hem shape is symbolic of the reflection of mountains in the water.

The Joy of Harvest is a masterpiece by Song Dynasty artist Ma Yuan (1160 – 1225), one of the most influential landscape painters of his time.

Example 2:

The print of our Spring Mountains Set is inspired by the mountain ranges from the Sui Dynasty painting Spring Excursion, widely cited as the earliest surviving work of Chinese landscape painting. The print traces the delicate, twisting brush strokes that outline the rise and fall of spring mountains in the distance. The colors are inspired by the luxurious powdered gold, malachite green, and azurite blue pigments used in the painting.

Painted by artist Zhan Ziqian, Spring Excursion was one of the first paintings to give prominence to mountains and rivers over human figures. It is considered a seminal work that marks the genesis of the most influential category of Chinese art for thousands of years to come.

FOSTERING A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF CHINESE AESTHETICS AMONG A GLOBAL AUDIENCE

We want to share the breadth, depth, and nuances of Chinese aesthetics with a global audience through our clothing. By offering an alternative aesthetic view to the exotified and caricatured version of Chinese fashion that has been perpetuated throughout the past century, we want to move beyond the set of narrow motifs that have defined what Chinese fashion can look like and open the door into a world where design is created by those who live and breathe the culture and comes from an informed and nuanced perspective.

Perhaps one of our prints will spark someone’s interest in understanding a particular artistic movement in history or thinking about how Chinese aesthetics is perceived today. If our pieces can inspire people to value culture more and spark conversations, then we’d consider that a success. 

WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR SHUMINGYU

We already have a lineup of themes for our future collections, and some designs are already in the works for our second and third collections. We also want to integrate more types of fabrics, silhouettes, and crafts into our designs.

In addition to clothing, we have future plans to expand into accessories, including handbags and fragrances. We are excited to bring our vision to life, step by step, and hope that others are excited to come along on this journey as well!

CONNECT WITH SHUMINGYU

Instagram: @shumingyuofficial

Website: shumingyu.co

  • 8 min read
unnamed (1)-jpg

News

How This Entrepreneur Shares the Richness of Asian Cuisine and Culture in Tampa

Born in Indonesia, Ferdian Jap’s upbringing in a Chinese restaurant fostered his passion for culinary arts and his desire to share the richness of Asian cuisine.

As the owner of Zukku Sushi and Astro Craft Ice Cream, Ferdian is not only continuing his family’s legacy of running restaurants but is also on a mission to showcase the diverse cultures and flavors of Asia to the local community.

With his entrepreneurial spirit, Ferdian is set to revolutionize the dining experience in Tampa. In addition to his current ventures, he is working on a Korean BBQ concept that promises to be a unique and upscale establishment. He envisions a dining environment that goes beyond Tampa’s expectations, immersing guests in an extraordinary atmosphere while savoring delectable Korean dishes.

Beyond his influence in the culinary world, Ferdian has actively participated in initiatives to revitalize downtown Tampa, demonstrating his dedication to the community. As the former project manager for Friends of the Riverwalk, he played a crucial role in fundraising efforts that contributed to the development of downtown Tampa. Inspired by his involvement, Ferdian launched “Big City Events,” an organization that focuses on organizing festivals and concerts in Tampa.

Ferdian has also established a subsidiary called “Pier Events,” which aims to bring the same dynamic energy to St. Petersburg. Notably, he is the event manager for the iconic St. Pete Pier, overseeing a diverse range of engaging activities.

Ferdian Jap is eager to introduce new concepts and plans to expand his restaurant empire both locally and nationally. Through his endeavors, he continues to celebrate the diverse cultures of Asia while leaving a lasting impact on the dynamic landscape of Tampa’s restaurant and entertainment industries.

Featured Image Source: Linkedin

  • 2 min read
Daily Expert News-jpg

News

Indian Designer’s Iconic Lehengas Make Mark in Sustainable Fashion

Renowned fashion designer Rahul Mishra has emerged as a leading advocate of ‘slow fashion’ in the industry, redefining bridal wear with his unique ethos.

Since his debut in 2017, Mishra has seen a remarkable rise in demand for his bridal lehengas. Today, eager customers face an almost five-month wait to own one of his coveted designs. Mishra’s talent has also caught the attention of international celebrities. He recently made headlines for dressing Zendaya in a stunning blue sari at the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai.

Image Source: LBB

Mishra’s accomplishments include being the first Indian designer to showcase his collection at Paris Haute Couture Week in 2020, a feat he continues to achieve year after year.

Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian designs that utilized calico textile, an unbleached fabric made from cotton fibers, Mishra creates lehengas that embody an off-white, ecru aesthetic. The brides who choose Rahul Mishra lehengas appreciate the uniqueness of his designs, characterized by intricate embroidery and unparalleled craftsmanship.

The surge in wedding attire sales, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has helped Mishra support and provide employment to over 1,200 embroiderers from rural communities in India. The impact of his creations extends beyond fashion, creating meaningful opportunities for artisans and their families.

Rahul Mishra’s journey started from a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Although his initial aspirations to become a cinematographer were met with rejection, his decision to enroll in an apparel design program opened doors to a fulfilling career in fashion.

Featured Image Source: Daily Expert News

  • 2 min read
Screen Shot 2023-07-07 at 11.30.52 AM-png

News

Former Pharmacist Opens Cafe While Competing on Gordon Ramsay’s Show

While preparing to open a new cafe in Chicago’s vibrant Uptown neighborhood, pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur Lan Ho is also competing on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, a reality show featuring aspiring chefs and culinary innovators.

The cafe will showcase her own brand Fat Miilk and will pay homage to Vietnamese culture through its space and food offerings.

Image Source: Fat Miilk

Vietnamese coffee holds a significant place in Vietnamese culture, and Lan Ho is determined to offer an elevated coffee experience that truly captures the essence of this rich tradition. By working closely with local farmers throughout Vietnam, Fat Miilk ensures that only the highest quality Robusta beans are sourced for their coffee. 

According to TimeOut, these organic green beans, renowned for their sweet and fruity flavor, are cultivated at different elevations and roasted using the traditional Vietnamese slow drip method. By focusing on Robusta beans, Fat Miilk stands out from other coffee brands, striving to serve the most authentic and flavorsome Vietnamese coffee.

Ho’s Vietnamese heritage and her family’s entrepreneurial spirit have been influential in her journey. As the child of Vietnamese refugees, she witnessed the determination and resilience of her family members who started businesses to provide for their loved ones. This upbringing instilled in Ho a strong sense of purpose and resilience, which helped her in starting her own business.

Participating in Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars has been a transformative experience for Ho, teaching her valuable lessons in self-advocacy and self-care. 

As the opening of Fat Miilk’s flagship cafe approaches, Lan Ho remains committed to creating a space that authentically represents Vietnamese coffee culture. The cafe will not only serve an array of Vietnamese coffee options but will also feature Vietnamese meat pies and other delicacies.

Featured Image Source: @iamlanho

  • 2 min read