This project will investigate how a novel, patent-pending technology (isochoric freezing) can be used to cleanly separate the meat from the shells of common shellfish in the US aquaculture industry…

Biochoric, Inc. received a $172,823 project grant awarded August 15, 2025, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program (CFDA 10.212), administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The grant supports research and development activities conducted in Bozeman, Montana, with a project completion date of April 14, 2026. The award funds investigation into the commercial viability of isochoric freezing technology—a patent-pending innovation developed by Biochoric, Inc.—to efficiently separate meat from shellfish shells in domestic aquaculture operations.

Under this Phase I SBIR project, Biochoric, Inc. will conduct experiments to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of using proprietary isochoric chambers to deshell major domestically-aquacultured shellfish species at costs competitive with traditional removal methods while maintaining high-quality meat suitable for consumer markets. The research directly supports Executive Orders 13921 and 14276 promoting American seafood competitiveness and economic growth. Successful demonstration of technical feasibility and commercial viability is intended to reduce consumer costs for high-quality protein, improve profit margins for domestic aquaculture producers, and strengthen the export competitiveness of American seafood while advancing food supply chain independence.

This project will investigate how a novel, patent-pending technology (isochoric freezing) can be used to cleanly separate the meat from the shells of common shellfish in the US aquaculture industry and be financially competitive with traditional shell removal techniques. The experiments this project will conduct will determine which of and how the major domestically-aquacultured shellfish can be deshelled at competitive prices and produce high quality, appealing meat for consumers, using biochoric INC's proprietary isochoric chambers, which are designed and built in the united states.reducing the cost of deshelling will lower prices for consumers, increasing their access to, and choices of, high-quality protein. This will also improve profit margins for domestic aquaculture, driving the expansion of aquaculture and its supporting industries, in support of the may 7TH, 2020 executive order 13921, promoting american seafood competitiveness and economic growth.further, the success of this project provides a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of american aquaculture exports, in support of the april 17TH, 2025 executive order 14276, restoring american seafood competitiveness. This project recognizes that food security is national security, and food supply chain independence with healthy, low-cost meat choices for consumers is vital.