This photo on April 21, 2021 shows employees preparing food samples based on plants when launching the ADM plant innovation laboratory in Singapore. -Dhe Faux-Chicken SATAY after imitation of Reddang beef, technologically advanced Singapore laboratory reproduces popular Asian dishes with vegetable meat alternatives to feed the growing appetite of the region on sustainable food. (Photo of the Rahman / AFP Roslan) (photo Rahman / AFP via Getty Images)
Rahman's Russian AFP Getty images
After the popularity in the era of Pandemic, noise – and financing – for startups developing meat alternatives decreased. But some Singapore undertakings with food technology hope that innovations in cell culture and microorganism fermentation may soon reverse.
Proteins factory using animal extracts, fungi or plants trained by Covid-19 years as a new way to balanced food. Meat and dairy products currently include About one seventh global greenhouse gas productionUN estimates.
Singapore, which imports most of its products due to the deficiency of Earth, was large in this sector with generous financing of research and commercialization, because he tried to increase food safety.
“There are very few places in the world … with such a fusion of cultures, for real market tests with a number of consumers on various environments,” said Mihir Pershad, UMAMI Bioworks CEO, a local startup of cultivated seafood. Unlike vegetable proteins, grown products are grown in an animal cell laboratory.
The company, founded in 2020, expanded its activity by introducing branches in the USA and Japan. Last year, he entered Great Britain and announced a new caviar product using sturgeon cells and plant ingredients in January.
Singapore consumers will still be the first to try Umami Bioworks, but because the company is looking for regulatory consent in Singapore. Umami Bioworks wants to sell cultivated Unagi – a commonly grilled eel – this year, waiting for such regulatory controls and “if everything goes well,” said Pershad.
Singapore was the first country that allows the sale of meat products bred in the laboratory in 2020, with Israel and the United States later. The United Kingdom approved such products for use in pets.
Alternative protein tests in Singapore are also expanding. The center financed by Jeff Bezos was opened to the National University of Singapore in September, and last year the State Investor of Temasek, through the subsidiary of Nuras, presented a new laboratory and test kitchen appliances to support growing startups.
A battered ecosystem
Recent progress, however, cannot mask problems that are burdened with alternative protein industry. Despite the fanfare, sales delayed expectations due to high prices and several repetitive buyers.
The sector collected $ 1.1 billion around the world in 2024, compared to $ 1.5 billion $ 2023 According to to the Good Food Institute industry group.
The American company Eat simply plans for a cultivated meat plant in Singapore are suspended and the company's plans for a separate plant egg factory are canned. Meanwhile, an exclusive concept store by a plant seller in Hong Kong Green Monday, closed in 2023. Since then, few new players have appeared, while some existing start-ups are lowering or connecting with others.
The challenges caused the search for a soul in the industry. For Anla Geng, co -founder of Singapore Venture Mycosortia, it is crucial to reduce production costs.
Mycosortia uses microbial fermentation to transform okar-by-production from tofu-in protein and powder rich in fiber. The company also aims to develop a solid fermentation process that bypasses the need for advanced and expensive bioreactors.
“Although Okan research is a very crowded area, there are always possibilities of innovation,” said GEng, adding that the industry now wants to divide objects to further reduce costs.
The company, based in Singapore Polytechnic, used its FibProt product to produce fish, mayonnaise and cheese analogues. Geng also reported great interest of food companies in its latest attempt to create a substitute for cocoa powder.
Elsewhere, alternative protein companies looking for breakthroughs on the market diversify their offers including pharmaceuticals, dyes and food for pets that can be done using the same ingredients.
Some believe in a return to simpler vegetable food. The relative novice on the Jungle Kitchen stage, introduced to the market in Singapore in 2023, uses Jackfrut Sri Lanka as a vegan ground substitute, while the seeds go to Masala stew. Another kitchen product in the jungle using Indonesian Tempeh – traditional fermented soy cakes – will soon be available.
“We have seen a much greater involvement of customers looking for a minimally processed, pure alternative to the conventional substitute for meat,” said co-founder Surykh Yadav, adding that the company was “almost an intentional reaction” to the boom- experience of the bust of the alternative bust of the protein industry. Products in Jungle Kitchen are available in Singapore, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
“As for alternative proteins, we think that the future must look very similar to the past,” added Yadav.
Recovery in sight?
The latest funds for obtaining funds offer hope. Venture Capitalist Agfunder announced that investments in Asia and the Pacific in innovative food-including vegetable proteins and breeding meat-raised by 85% to $ 204 million in 2024.
But collecting cash remains a challenge for some, and investors are concerned about the startups accuse sufficient customers for healthy returns, said Pershad. He added that Singapore is doing well as a test test, but is delayed as the final market from below six million inhabitants.
He believes that working with larger food companies can increase market access, but the regulations regarding cultivated meat are another obstacle.
“She hoped that you would have three, four or five countries with frames and approval so far, but still not,” said Pershad.
According to Mirte Gosker, managing director of the Good Food Food Food Food Food Food Institute Institute Good Food Institute, Asia Pacific will have to increase funding massively to help you help the scale of alternative proteins.
“In contrast to renewable renewable sources and other climate technologies, alternative proteins do not yet use the type of massive government investments and green financing systems that enabled startups of pure energy to fill the valley of death and migration from a laboratory bench for production on an industrial scale on an industrial scale, an industrial scale, Gosker said.
The success of Singapore in space will still depend on the role of an innovation and matchmaker partner, said Gosker, noting that nearby countries referred to the work of the city on the regulations regarding their own efforts.
She said that the standardized regional rules would help startups to launch products on many markets at the same time – the exploits few were able to achieve.