Singapore

UMAMI Bioworks Develops Cultivated Caviar to “Reshape the Definition of Luxury”

January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

UMAMI Bioworks, a bioplatform provider for cellular agriculture, has announced the development of a new cultivated caviar product. The caviar combines UMAMI’s proprietary cultivated technology with a selection of plant-based ingredients to replicate the rich taste and texture of conventional caviar. It contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and essential micronutrients. The development comes as the caviar industry increasingly faces challenges, with 90% of global sturgeon populations reportedly now endangered. UMAMI’s product could provide a way to meet the growing demand for caviar in a sustainable way. “By combining cutting-edge science with a deep respect for oceanic heritage, we are offering connoisseurs an indulgence that delivers exceptional taste and texture without compromise,” said Mihir Pershad, CEO of UMAMI Bioworks. “Customized culinary offerings” Within …

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Oatly Announces Closure of Singapore Facility to Further Streamline Operations

December 19, 2024

Oatly Group AB (Nasdaq: OTLY), a global leader in oat-based drinks, confirmed the closure of its manufacturing facility in Singapore as part of an ongoing initiative to refine its supply chain. The decision aligns with the company’s asset-light strategy, which aims to optimize operational efficiency, reduce capital expenditure, and streamline production processes. The Singapore facility, which operated under Oatly’s Europe & International segment, will be shut down as part of a broader effort to consolidate the company’s supply chain network in Asia. Following the closure, Oatly will rely on its existing European facilities to support the growing demand within the Asia-Pacific market. The company anticipates that this move will enhance capacity utilization at its European production sites. Oatly’s CEO, Jean-Christophe Flatin, highlighted the ongoing improvements …

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Oatly

Steakholder Foods 3D bio-prints the world's first cultivated fish fillet

UMAMI Bioworks and Steakholder Foods Successfully Scale 3D-Printed Cultivated Fish, Poised to Expand the Seafood Market

January 15, 2025November 28, 2024

Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks and Israel’s Steakholder Foods have completed a two-year R&D collaboration to develop a scalable process for 3D-printed cultivated fish production, funded by the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD). According to the companies, the partnership has “laid the groundwork” for producing structured cultivated fish fillets at scalable volumes using 3D printing technology and customized bio-inks, marking a significant step toward bringing these products to the market. As part of the project, a grouper fillet, claimed to be the world’s first 3D bio-printed cultivated fish fillet, was unveiled in early 2023. Building on this innovation, the companies have developed a portfolio of prototypes to showcase the versatility of 3D printing and cultivated cells in making alternatives that match the characteristics of traditional seafood. Mihir …

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Steakholder Foods

Vital Meat's cultivated chicken with rice

Image courtesy of Vital Meat

Singapore Tasting of Cultivated Chicken Marks Milestone in Vital Meat’s Path to Approval

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024

Vital Meat, a cultivated meat startup based in Nantes, France, held the first tasting event for its flagship ingredient, Vital Chicken, in Singapore last week in partnership with Hue Restaurant. The exclusive tasting gathered 30 people, including investors, industry players, Singapore officials, French community representatives, and cultivated meat industry leaders, according to the announcement. Chef Jun Hao, a renowned chef blending traditional Thai flavors with modern twists, designed dishes to showcase the versatility of Vital Meat’s chicken in everyday recipes. Guests were treated to a three-course menu combining traditional Singaporean flavors: chicken skin chips, “offering a delightful crunch;” a delicate Vital Chicken broth paired with handmade ravioli infused with traditional local spices; and chicken rice, a flavorful Singaporean classic. Tastings, a crucial step before approval The …

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Vital Meat

Image courtesy of The Better Meat Co.

The Better Meat Co. Expands to Asia with Singapore Approval for Rhiza Mycoprotein

October 17, 2024

California’s The Better Meat Co. (BMC) announces it has received approval from the Singapore Food Authority to sell its flagship, single-ingredient Rhiza mycoprotein in the country. The approval confirms that Neurospora crassa, the fungi genus that BMC uses in its biomass fermentation process to make the mycoprotein, is safe for human consumption. Neurospora crassa has been traditionally used in Asian foods such as tempeh and oncom, but it has never been used as an ingredient itself. Most of the mycoproteins available are derived from the roots of Fusarium venenatum, the fungus strain used by Quorn for decades. This approval marks a significant milestone for the company’s overseas expansion. CEO Paul Shapiro will keynote the 3rd Annual Meat Evolution Leaders Summit in Singapore, featuring dishes made from Rhiza …

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The better Meat Co

Cultivated grouper fillet © UMAMI Bioworks

UMAMI Bioworks to Bring Cultivated White Fish to the UK Amid New Regulatory Landscape

October 9, 2024

UMAMI Bioworks, a startup from Singapore developing cultivated seafood technologies, announces the launch of operations in the UK, marking its first European expansion. UMAMI Bioworks has developed a platform for cultivated seafood to address the overfishing crisis with sustainable alternatives, positioning itself as a leader in the blue bioeconomy. By introducing its technology in the UK, the company aims to deliver a high-quality pipeline of cultivated seafood products, starting with white fish. The UK’s supportive regulatory framework, evidenced by the recent launch of a regulatory sandbox for cultivated proteins and reforms to streamline the regulatory process for regulated foods (which includes cultivated seafood), will allow the company to capitalize on the UK market. CEO Mihir Pershad shares, “Our decision to enter the UK market aligns …

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National University of Singapore (NUS)

Hand arranging sugar cubes as a metaphor for increasing sugar consumption or dietary control.

Science

NUS Researchers Use Sugar Cubes for Cheap, Scalable Production of Rye Scaffolds for Cultivated Meat

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024

Large-scale production of edible scaffolds and effective culturing methods for fat tissues — both crucial for replicating the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of meat — remain a technical challenge for the commercialization of cultivated meat. Scaffolds provide structural support for cells to multiply and develop into tissues. But they are typically made from synthetic or animal-based materials, which are expensive and inedible. But a research team led by Professor Huang Dejian from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has successfully cultured pork fat using a new kind of plant protein scaffold. The scientists identified secalin, a protein extracted from rye and barley, both common crops, as a suitable source to create edible scaffolds. They then developed a template-leaching method for creating sponge-like scaffolds using …

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UMAMI Bioworks to Establish South Korea’s First Cultivated Seafood Facility Through Strategic Partnership

January 15, 2025October 2, 2024

UMAMI Bioworks (previously Umami Meats) continues to expand its footprint across Asia to offer sustainable solutions to the growing demand for seafood products. Today, the Singaporean company announces a strategic partnership with South Korean biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG to establish a scalable production pipeline for cultivated seafood in South Korea. The parties also intend to co-invest in a GMP-compliant hub facility to produce cultivated eel and other seafood species. The collaboration will leverage UMAMI Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology, KCell Biosciences’ competitively priced cell culture media, and WSG’s bioprocessing hardware and bioreactor systems to expedite the introduction of products. UMAMI Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad comments, “With WSG and K-Cell’s history of delivering high-quality bioprocess equipment and culture media, we will work …

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The Good Food Institute APAC

Protein

Bezos Earth Fund Establishes Sustainable Protein Research Hub at National University of Singapore

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024

The Bezos Earth Fund has announced the establishment of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS), marking its first initiative of this kind in Asia. The centre, which is backed by a US$30 million grant, will focus on advancing sustainable protein research and the commercial development of alternative proteins in the region. The NUS centre will focus on key areas such as biomass fermentation, which involves using by-products like tofu waste to feed algae and produce high-quality protein. This research initiative forms part of a global network, joining other Bezos Centres for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London in the UK and North Carolina State University in the US. Professor Tan Eng Chye, president of NUS, explained the importance …

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Bezos Earth Fund

Ingredients

Ants Innovate Unveils Cell-Based Ingredient that “Captures the Maximum Flavor of Meat”

August 14, 2024

Singapore’s Ants Innovate, a deep tech startup focusing on developing cultivated whole meat cuts, held a private tasting to debut Cell Essence, a functional ingredient designed for hybrid (cell- and plant-based) products that is said to deliver an authentic meaty flavor. The Good Food Institute APAC reports that the company featured porcine Cell Essence in different meat alternative dishes, including meatballs, Shanghai-style soup dumplings, and teriyaki grilled meat skewers at the tasting. Attendee Calisa Lim, Senior Project Manager at APAC-SCA, shared on social media, “In a private tasting session today, the versatile cultivated oil was incorporated into an IKEA-style meatball, Shanghai-style xiao long bao (!), and a teriyaki grilled skewer. The small percentage of cells (<3%) was enough to deliver on the sweet, salty, and …

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ants-innovate

Ajinomoto launches products made with Solein air protein

Products & Launches

Ajinomoto to Launch Two Products Made With Solar Foods’ Air-Based Protein in Singapore

August 29, 2024August 12, 2024

Solar Foods has announced the launch of two new products made with its air-based protein, Solein, through a partnership with Japanese food manufacturer Ajinomoto Group. The products, Traditional Flowering Mooncakes and Ice Cream Sandwiches, will launch in Singapore under Ajinomoto’s new conscious brand, Atlr.72™. Solein replaces dairy in the products, providing protein, a rich consistency, and a reduced environmental impact. The other ingredients have also reportedly been chosen for their focus on health and sustainability. Solar Foods describes the limited edition launch as a “significant leap forward”, marking the availability of Solein for consumers and larger-scale commercial use. The products will make their debut ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when Singaporeans gift each other traditional mooncakes. The pilot is taking place in Singapore as the …

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Ajinomoto

Solar Foods

NTU partners with Bunge to develop alternative protein flavors

Ingredients

NTU Singapore Partners With Bunge to Develop Alternative Protein Flavors Using Fermentation

July 25, 2024

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore has announced a partnership with global agribusiness and food company Bunge to produce alternative protein flavors using fermentation. The agreement marks the first successful partnership of the Singapore Agri-food Innovation Lab (SAIL), which is funded by Enterprise Singapore. SAIL works to connect solution providers with multinational corporations in order to enhance the agri-food innovation ecosystem. As part of the partnership, Bunge will supply soybean, canola, and sunflower fats and oils, along with oilseed meal and cake (formed after oil is extracted from seeds). NTU’s Food Science and Technology Programme (FST), led by Professor William Chen, will use these ingredients to develop new flavors for use in alternative proteins and plant-based protein products. To achieve this, the researchers will employ solid-state …

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Bunge

NTU Singapore

Image provided

friends-family-pet-food-co

UMAMI Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food Co. to Launch Cultivated Fish Cat Treats in 2025

August 8, 2024July 17, 2024

A partnership between Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks, (previously Umami Meats) and the young US company Friends & Family Pet Food Co. (recently part of the ProVeg Incubator’s 12th cohort) is set to launch one of the world’s first cultivated fish cat treats in Singapore and in San Francisco, USA, early next year. The new products, reportedly crafted with high-quality cultivated fish proteins enriched with high-value microalgae and essential nutrients, aimed to promote what FnF calls a “Longevity Diet” for cats. In addition, the animal and ocean-friendly cat food lineup offers significant environmental benefits since cultivated fish production is more resource-efficient, requiring less land, water, and feed than traditional fishing methods or aquaculture. Joshua Errett, Friends & Family CEO and founder, states, “Together, we have created a …

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Cultivated Seafood Pioneer UMAMI Bioworks Sets Foot in India with IKP Partnership

July 10, 2024

Cultivated seafood startup UMAMI Bioworks, (previously Umami Meats) has announced a partnership with India’s premium Science Park and Incubator, IKP Knowledge Park, to accelerate the production of cultivated seafood. IKP has recently established the Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation in Bangalore, which facilitates core R&D, innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange for the smart protein sector. At the centre, UMAMI Bioworks’ team in India will lead the engineering and validation of the company’s plug-and-play manufacturing hardware, supporting tech transfer from their demonstration line to customer sites. Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and CEO of IKP Knowledge Park, welcomed UMAMI Bioworks and expressed excitement about the novel technology platform it brings to the smart protein ecosystem. She shared, “This collaboration will not only accelerate Umami’s growth …

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ikp-knowledge-park