News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
We bring you the top 10 most-read alternative protein stories from the APAC food and beverage industry in 2024, featuring cultivated meat challenges, plant-based dairy terms, protein made ‘out of thin air’ and more.
There is a wealth of opportunities for the dairy sector in Asia to grow and innovate particularly China and South East Asia, say experts.
There may be a positive correlation between nutrient-rich plant-based diets and improved sleep health among older adults, according to a study by researchers in China.
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The precision fermentation sector in Asia Pacific needs to take a more ‘realistic’ approach to operational and infrastructural management with a shift towards collaborative attitudes, in light of funding becoming increasingly scarce.
The South Korean government has collaborated with industry to launch 19 reduced-sodium and sugar food and beverage products as it seeks to meet national targets.
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FNA DEEP DIVE: CULTIVATED MEAT
The cultivated meat and seafood sector in APAC has gone through various ups and downs in recent years – but now that the dust has settled, what does the industry truly see as the path forward?
B2B partnerships and a focus on cultivated chicken are Vital Meat’s strategies to scale production and achieve competitive pricing in the APAC market for cultivated protein.
The a2 Milk Company is doubling down on its senior nutrition business in China as it explores different ways to maximise the market’s potential.
The cultivated meat sector needs to be aligned with not only food safety regulations but also local religious and cultural beliefs in Asia if commercial success is to be achieved in the region.
The supplementation of a whey-derived peptide has been shown to lower self-perceived levels of stress among middle-aged adults, according to a six-week study conducted by Kirin Holdings.
Finnish dairy co-operative Valio believes a focus on lactose-free milk innovation with an identical taste profile to regular dairy is the way to gain more prominent recognition within the Asian dairy market.
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang has launched a range of tempeh chips pandering to local consumer preferences in Thailand, with the aim of spurring its growth in the market.
UMAMI Bioworks says it will tap into South Korea’s lead in novel foods in its latest collaboration with biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG.
India-based Origin Nutrition has launched a range of high-protein, compression-popped pea-based chips in a bid to target the slow-but-sure local healthy snacking market.
Spain-based Eggnovo has set its sights on the beauty-from within and joint health markets in Asia, believing that its collagen upcycled from eggshells can provide consumers with a versatile option that is required in much lower doses than regular collagen.
Dubai-based healthy snack brand Linafsi is adopting several strategies to overcome stiff competition, including flavour innovation and localisation, exploring new product formats, and expanding sales channels.
The protein and premium snack segments are seeing annual growth rates of more than 50%, and holistic wellness remains the biggest driver of innovation, according to a market intelligence report.
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The supplementation of fermented soybean has been shown to reduce symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), including heartburn, as well as lowering inflammatory markers, based on findings from a 12-week RCT.
Asia consumers’ holistic approach to healthy living is increasingly driving demand for functional products, with sleep, immunity, hydration and gut health trending.
Algae-based proteins are viable and sustainable alternatives to soy in relation to taste and metabolic outcomes, say researchers.
The plant-based trend has slowed in recent months, but new research could be set to restore its fortunes.
Indonesia will be able to capitalise on a ‘golden opportunity’ with its halal food products industry as long as it improves product quality, safety and infrastructure, according to a leading halal certification official.
Fortifying soy whey with selected strains of Bifidobacteria and propionic acid bacteria can increase vitamin B12 levels in plant-based products, according to an academic from the National University of Singapore.
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang is accelerating the expansion of its Oceania and European business led by its “bibigo K-food strategy”, following a surge in sales and positive consumer reception.
Plant-based product manufacturers still targeting the Asian market need to identify the right product formats that can strengthen the category’s correlation with health benefits, or risk further industry slowdown, experts claim.
Middle East food and beverage giant Agthia has reaped the rewards of solid investments into new product innovation with significant volume-led growth in the first half of 2024, and hopes to further boost this with its newly opened protein facility.
South Korean food giant Nongshim remains optimistic for the prospects of its plant-based meat alternative brand Veggie Garden, believing that the sector still has a bright future in the South East Asian region and especially Thailand.
Qatari dairy firm Baladna has announced plans to double down on its new product innovation and international market expansion strategy, particularly in Algeria, after seeing a record growth in net profits over the first six months of 2024.
Thai seafood giant Thai Union has highlighted its ambient product business as the main sales growth booster for the company in the first half of 2024, further supplemented by rising tuna prices and its rapidly-growing value-added product category.
Informing consumers of the benefits of plant-based diets is ‘not enough’ to convince them to reduce meat intake, but rather need to be supported by factors like lifestyle habits and nutritional concerns, according to a recent report.
The intake of freeze-dried kale and pea powders both led to improved metabolic profile among Saudi adults with obesity, but the latter was found to be superior for blood glucose control in a cross-over study.
South Korea believes that its inclusion in the European Union’s list of antimicrobial-compliant markets will give it a leg up in securing a larger share of the animal-based products market as well as future trade negotiations.
Chinese dairy brand Shiny Meadow has launched an upgraded version of its fresh milk product, which contains higher protein and calcium content, to meet evolving consumer needs.
Vietnam-based Duy Anh believes its new vermicelli range utilising beans as the key ingredient can help to elevate these to become ingrained as a healthy staple food item.
Sydney-based firm Vow is targeting premium consumers in Singapore through the launch of its cell-cultured meat at high-end restaurants, which it says is the first step towards wider acceptance and adoption of such products.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 51
Tempeh chips brand Mamame has highlighted the multiple nutritional benefits of black-eyed beans as a key factor behind its success in the APAC healthy snacking sector, fuelling its upcoming growth into the UK and US markets as well.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has emphasised that its recent announcement to allow insect imports for human consumption is underscored by food safety and transparent labelling regulatory requirements to ensure smooth integration of this nascent sector.
Amway is focusing its resources on several key categories, including gut health and anti-ageing, based on major trends that it has observed and believes possess immense potential for growth.
The South Korean food authorities have highlighted that public health and potential food safety concerns will be its top priorities when developing the upcoming regulations to govern cultivated meat in the country.
Cultivated meat brand GOOD Meat’s recent retail launch of a new chicken product in Singapore has divided experts across the food industry as to whether this is a step forward for the sector or simply a means to cut costs amidst the firm’s financial...
A 'game-changing phenomenon' needs to take place before plant-based could become a strong trend in Japan, according to an industry expert pioneering meat alternatives in the country.
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is implementing stricter food safety requirements when importing animal-based products into the country.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is seeking public comment on draft regulations for the newly-coined ‘defined foods’ category, which will cover novel foods, genetically modified foods and insect-related foods.
China regulators are considering subjecting the local ready-to-cook (RTC) foods category to additional mandatory standards and regulations in response to general public concerns over the food safety and quality.
FoodEx Japan 2024
The US is hoping to see a resurgence in beef exports to Japan on the back of a post-pandemic increase in tourism and new retail opportunities, after reporting a 23% drop in 2023 to shipments valued at $1.8bn.
The government of Vietnam has its eye on increasing food trade across various product categories with China, citing huge population demand for meat as well as ongoing successful fruit and vegetable trade relationships as notable drivers.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has highlighted that cultivated meat still needs to meet a ‘more rigorous’ set of requirements to be halal-certified, even though it has been deemed potentially permissible for halal consumption.
Emerging technologies such as 3D food printing (3DFP) are unlocking opportunities to develop nutrient-rich and personalised plant-based substitutes for traditional meat, say researchers.