Southeast Asia

Californian startup The Better Meat Co has received regulatory approval for its Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient in Singapore, paving the way for its international debut. The Better Meat Co is now cleared to sell its Rhiza mycoprotein in…
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Malaysian climate tech startup Qarbotech has secured $1.5M in a seed extension round to help plants absorb carbon dioxide and increase yields by 60%. What if farmers could add something to their crops that would capture more sunlight,…
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Backed by the Thai government, Sangtuptim Inter Co., a manufacturer of coconut-based products, has developed a plant-based pork analogue from coconut water. A Thai company known for its coconut vermicelli has created plant-based meat…
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Singapore's Oatside has secured $35M in its ongoing Series B funding round, which could end up potentially netting the oat milk maker $74M. Oatside, the oat milk company that has taken over Asia-Pacific, raised S$47.9M (around $35.3M)…
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A 2022 Philippine Commission on Human Rights report links fossil fuel companies to climate change and human rights impacts, boosting climate justice efforts. It calls for stricter regulations, corporate accountability, and reparations for…
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The Malaysian government is undertaking research to determine the potential of cultivated meat and alternative proteins as it looks to find "sustainable alternatives to current crop production". The Malaysian Ministry of Higher…
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Thailand's food safety regulator has published draft regulations suggesting bans on meat- and dairy-related terms for plant-based analogues. Plant-based meat and cheese products could face crippling labelling bans in Thailand if the…
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Mia, one of Bangkok's newly crowned Michelin-starred restaurants, is catering to vegans and vegetarians with dedicated tasting menus. But you won't find any plant-based meat here. Bib Gourmands are a big thing in Bangkok. It's a…
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Agri-fintech platform AgriG8 has received financing from Better Bite Ventures and The Trendlines Group to help rice farmers in Asia reduce methane emissions by up to 55%. Singaporean VC firm Better Bite Ventures and Israel's The…
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Two food waste warriors let us in on their efforts to turn surplus food into a sustainable dining experience in a city that throws out over a million tonnes of food each year. Hong Kong may be known as Asia's World City, a melting pot…
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The Singapore Food Agency has granted a food production licence to ScaleUp Bio's commercial-scale facility for submerged- and precision-fermented ingredients. ScaleUp Bio has received a food manufacturing licence from Singapore's…
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Californian cultivated meat pioneer Eat Just has hit a major milestone in the sector, debuting Good Meat chicken in the freezers of Huber's Butchery in Singapore – the first time these proteins are available in retail. You can now…
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Starbucks buys 3% of all coffee in the world – so its responsibility to safeguard the future of the industry, which is being ravaged by climate change, can't be understated. Here's how it's helping coffee farmers adapt and thrive. It's…
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In one of his final major speeches, outgoing Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned "novel food biotechnologies" as a promising job prospect – it's a nod to the country's food tech pedigree. In two weeks' time, Lee…
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Singaporean sustainable food production platform Nurasa has opened a Food Tech Innovation Centre to help alternative protein companies scale up production and enhance flavour and nutrition. Nurasa, the sustainable food innovation…
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A year after filing for administration in the UK, vegan food manufacturer Plant & Bean has opened a new factory for plant-based meat via a joint venture in Thailand. Much like its counterparts, 2023 was a turbulent year for Plant…
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UK oat milk brand Minor Figures saw losses grow to nearly £10M last year, citing inflationary pressures and a downturn in the Asia-Pacific market – but its overall revenues jumped to £31.8M, and the company is now on the path to becoming…
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At the inaugural THAIFEX-HOREC Asia in Bangkok last month, representation for veganism was strong, particularly for plant-based milk, with a host of startups presenting new innovations in the space. March brought with it scorching heat…
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Indonesian plant-based company Green Rebel will grace supermarket aisles in the Philippines with its shelf-stable and frozen ready meals via a partnership with Filipino condiment manufacturer and distributor NutriAsia. Filipinos will…
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India is joining the ranks of other southeast Asian companies to establish a regulatory framework for cultivated meat and seafood companies, who can then file a dossier to receive approval from its food safety authority to sell their…
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Better Bite Ventures has opened up applications for the latest funding round of its First Bite scheme, which offers early-stage investments to food tech startups in the Asia-Pacific region. The new round will focus on crops that most…
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