In a world first, fish raised on mycoprotein, a sustainable, fungi-based alternative to traditional feed, have reached commercial markets, marking a major leap forward for both aquaculture and the circular economy.
The breakthrough was announced in October and comes courtesy of Cirkulär, a Swedish biotech company transforming industrial sidestreams into high-value protein ingredients. Cirkulär was founded in 2019 in Lund, by Eric Öste, son of Oatly inventor Rickard Öste. It is backed by investors including MBP Solutions and known profiles from the investor sector, such as Parham Abuhamzeh (Managing director, EQT) and Reynir Indahl (founder of Summa Equity)
After two years of successful pilot production in southern Sweden, the company is now gearing up to build a full-scale biomanufacturing facility, a move that could revolutionize how we feed farmed fish and reduce the industry’s dependence on soy and wild-caught fishmeal.
“This milestone proves that our technology is not only robust but commercially viable. With a validated process and a first product in the market, we are now moving towards full-scale biomanufacturing,”
says Eric Öste, CEO and founder of Cirkulär
Cirkulär’s pilot facility has spent the past two years fine-tuning its fermentation process, demonstrating that mycoprotein can be produced reliably, cost-effectively, and at scale. The success has attracted attention beyond aquaculture, with potential applications spanning pet food, human nutrition, personal care, and even agricultural biostimulants. By converting industrial byproducts into high-value ingredients, the company is helping industries decouple from volatile global commodity markets and build resilient, closed-loop supply chains.
“Circular base ingredients will — and must be — the foundation of tomorrow’s industries. There is no alternative.”
says Eric Öste.
