This April 21, 2021 photo shows staff preparing plant-based food samples when they launch the ADM Plant-Based Innovation Laboratory in Singapore. – From artificial chicken satellites to imitating beef zombies, high-tech Singaporean laboratories are replicating popular Asian dishes using plant-based meat alternatives to feed the region’s growing appetite for sustainable food. (Photo by Roslan Rahman/AFP
Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty Images
After the popularity of the pop era, the hype and funding of startups developing meat alternatives gradually faded. However, some Singaporean food technology companies hope that innovations in cell culture and microbial fermentation can turn the situation around.
A new approach to using animal, fungal or plant extracts tend toward a sustainable diet over the 19-year period. Meat and dairy products are currently considered One-seventh of global greenhouse gas outputUN estimates.
Singapore imports most of its agricultural products due to land scarcity, and a large amount of funds are used in the industry for research and commercialization, thereby promoting food security.
“There are few places in the world … blended with real market testing with consumers with different backgrounds,” said Mihir Pershad, CEO of Umami Bioworks, a local startup that cultivates seafood. Unlike plant-based proteins, cultivated products are grown from animal cells.
Founded in 2020, the company expanded its operations with branches in the United States and Japan. It entered the UK last year and announced a new caviar product using st fish cells and plant ingredients in January.
Singaporean consumers are still likely to be the first to taste umami bio-beef dish, but as the company seeks regulatory approval in Singapore. This year, Umami Bioworks hopes to sell farmed unagi (usually freshwater eels) this year, awaiting such regulatory checks, and “if everything goes well.”
Singapore was the first country to allow lab-grown meat products to be sold in 2020, followed by Israel and the United States. Products approved in the UK for pet food.
Research on alternative proteins in Singapore is also expanding. The Jeff Bezos-funded Centre opened at the National University of Singapore in September and last year conducted state investor Temasek through subsidiary Nurasa, unveiling new labs and test kitchen facilities to support growing startups .
A masochistic ecosystem
However, recent advances cannot mask the troubles caused to the alternative protein industry. Despite the big fanfare, sales lag behind expectations due to high prices and few buyers.
The industry raised $1.1 billion worldwide in 2024, down from $1.5 billion in 2023 according to Go to the Good Food Research Institute of the Industry Group.
US company Eat Just Just plans to build a plan to cultivate plants in Singapore, the company’s plan is a separate plant-based egg plant plan can. Meanwhile, a premium concept store at Hong Kong plant-based retailer Green on Monday was closed in 2023. There have been few new players since then, while some existing startups merge with others.
These challenges have inspired soul searches within the industry. For Anli Geng, co-founder of Singapore Risk Mycorrhizal, reducing production costs is key.
Mycorrhizal uses microbial fermentation to convert Okara (from making tofu) into a byproduct of protein and fiber-rich powder. The company also aims to develop solid fermentation processes that bypass the need for advanced and expensive bioreactors.
“While Okara’s research is a very crowded field, there are always opportunities for innovation,” Geng said, adding that the industry is now seeking to share facilities to further cut costs.
Located at Singapore Polytechnic Institute, the company has used its product fiber to make fish, mayonnaise and cheese analogues. Geng also reported on food companies’ keen interest in the latest attempts to create cocoa powder alternatives.
Elsewhere, alternative protein companies seeking market breakthroughs have been diversifying their products, including medicines, dyes and pet foods that can be made with the same ingredients.
Some believe in returning to simpler plant-based foods. Relative newbies in the live jungle kitchen launched in Singapore in 2023 use Sri Lankan jackfruit as a vegetarian meat substitute, while seeds enter Masala stew. Another jungle kitchen product using Indonesian Tempeh (traditional fermented soy cake) will be available soon.
“We have seen more customer engagement in search of minimally restricted, clean label alternatives,” said co-founder Surekha Yadav, who is a bust experience in the alternative protein industry. Jungle kitchen products are available in Singapore, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
“In terms of alternative proteins, we think the future needs to look a lot like the past,” Yadav added.
Vision recovery?
The latest fundraiser brings you hope. Venture Capitalist Agfunder reported that in 2024, innovative food investments in the Asia-Pacific region, including plant-based proteins and cultured meat, rose 85% to $204 million.
However, raising cash remains a challenge for some, with investors worried that startups turn to enough customers for healthy returns. He added that Singapore’s fares are good but serve as a test bench but lags behind the final market, and residents’ final market is lagging behind.
He believes that working with large food companies can improve market access, but regulations on farming meat raise another barrier.
“People want you to have three, four or five countries right now, but now we still don’t have the framework and approvals, but we still don’t have it,” Pahad said.
Mirte Gosker, managing director of Good Food Institute Asia Asia Pacific, said government and private investors need substantial strengthening of financing to help replace protein scale.
“Unlike renewable energy and other climate technologies, alternative proteins have not yet benefited from that large-scale government investment and green financing scheme that allow clean energy startups to bridge the death valley and move from laboratory steps to industrial scale manufacturing,” Gosk said.
Gosker said Singapore’s success in the field will continue to depend on its role as an innovation partner and matchmaker, noting that nearby countries have mentioned the work of the city’s national efforts and regulations.
A standardized regional rulebook will help startups launch products in multiple markets at once – a few will be able to achieve that.
