The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s heavy reliance on grain imports as a source of dietary calories and protein poses major risks to food security and nutrition level among its populations, say researchers.
Consumers in the Middle East are increasingly looking for protein-rich products to fulfil various needs, with claims ranging from sports performance to age-related muscle support.
Hybrid innovation with meat and plant-based ingredients, affordability and a focus on the needs of flexitarians is needed to boost the protein sector in APAC over the long-term.
Price premiums, unsatisfactory taste, and a persistent perception of over-processed products are the most common barriers to plant-based meat consumption in Asian markets.
Singapore start-up Hegg has launched its eggless Japanese mayonnaise in the domestic market and is looking to capitalise on growth opportunities across Asia with ‘localised flavours.’
NZ-based Off-Piste Provisions has outlined how consumer demands for healthy convenience food and a ‘chewing experience’ are key drivers guiding its product development strategy amidst plans for Australia and United States expansion.
China health foods authorities are including soy protein isolate and whey protein to the country’s Health Food Raw Material Directory – Nutrition Supplement, which means that products containing these two ingredients could make specific health claims.
Jaipur-based alt-protein start-up Gladful is working with mothers to hone its product development strategy, while also targeting partnerships for brand awareness and expansion in the country’s Tier 2 and 3 cities.
Chinese firm Haofood says that the convergence of right ingredients with its proprietary tech was key to creating its first clean-label plant-based product - Carefree Pulled Chickless.
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has outlined its functional beverage ambitions across South East Asia after a spate of new ready-to-drink (RTD) product launches under the Anchor and Fernleaf brands.
Food and ingredient firms riding the plant-based wave in Asia should not neglect the ‘bottom of the pyramid’, where affordable and nutritious products have huge scope to boost both public health and the industry’s long-term financial prospects.
Prolonged whole egg supplementation has been found to positively impact adolescent growth by promoting HDL-cholesterol and health-promoting bacteria growth, according to a study on Thai rural children.
Consumer demand for alternate proteins is unlikely to end up growing at a uniform rate due to local dietary differences, much of which will still prioritise animal protein in the long run, according to an expert panel.
Middle Eastern food and beverage giant Agthia has recovered strongly from the impacts of COVID-19 on the region, with its protein and snacking businesses both seeing over 70% growth in the past year despite ongoing economic challenges.
Increasing protein intake appears to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older age, while an extreme decline in animal-based protein consumption is linked with a 48% increase, new data from a long-term China study suggests.
The booming plant-based sector requires further scientific, technological and regulatory improvements in order to address consumer concerns and increase its commercial sustainability, say researchers in China and the US.
Nutrient quality in plant-based beverages should be considered on a par with sustainability credentials, researchers say as they assessed the quality as well as quantity of micronutrients in common plant-based drinks.
The expertise of global food corporations and VC firms is urgently needed to drive the Thai foodtech system and help build a regulatory framework for novel foods, while also offering more support to start-ups.
The long-term imperative driving meat alternatives is clear: We only have one planet, with a growing population and finite resources, and raising animals to feed them all just takes up too many of them, says Tom Mastrobuoni, chief investment officer at...
Tyson’s plant-based innovations are complementary and not competitors to its existing traditional meat products, claims its Vice President Commercial for APAC in the first part of our exclusive interview.
The Asian plant-based protein start-up scene is geared to grow 25% by 2025 as more Asians look into flexitarian diets and firms region-wide strive to develop products better suited to their palate.
One of Australia’s leading nutrition experts and senior CEOs will be making the case for meat at our forthcoming Growth Asia Summit, in the wake of an explosion of interest in the plant-based protein sector.
One of China’s plant-based protein pioneers will be sharing exclusive insights on how the sector plans to accelerate its growth at our forthcoming Growth Asia Summit in Singapore.
The industry exec who has overseen Impossible Foods’ expansion across Singapore and the UAE will be shining the spotlight on the tools for sustained plant-based success in APAC at our forthcoming Growth Asia Summit in Singapore.
Conventional red meat is a better source of protein and delivers more essential amino acids than plant-based alternatives, based on results from a New Zealand RCT.
Investing in the alternative protein sector has one of the biggest impacts on decarbonization when assessed in terms of the market value of avoided CO2e emissions per dollar invested in mitigation efforts, claims a new report.
China cultivated meat firm CellX has revealed both its short-term and long-term strategies to bring its novel products to the commercialisation stage, with plans to build its own facility some time in 2023 to facilitate its focus on cost reduction and...
FoodNavigator-Asia and NutraIngredients-Asia are thrilled to announce that the pioneering food and nutrition summit, Growth Asia, is returning in the form of a live, face-to-face conference in Singapore this October.
Australian children's nutrition company Sprout Organic has launched its latest product, a junior plant protein shake, which has sold close to 2,000 units in the first four days of pre-sales.
Singapore-based Angie’s Tempeh is exploring the idea of developing Asian foods such as dim sum with tempeh along with expanding into the ready-to-eat space, as part of its plan to tap into mainstream retail channels after receiving a major funding boost.
Meat and poultry spending accounts for the largest proportion in total food spending in Bahrain, and is expected to increase further, according to new report documenting Bahrain’s shifting dietary spending habits over two decades.
Hong Kong-based IXON Food Technology, which has developed advanced sous-vide aseptic packaging (ASAP) to store fresh meat, fish and seafood at room temperature for up to two years, is building a pilot plant in the United States as part of its plans to...
Thailand-based Khaisook, or ‘Happy Egg’, is looking to draw in consumers in search of convenient high-protein foods with its proprietary ready-to-eat egg white products and protein snacks, whilst also making preparations to expand beyond its home ground...
ADM is doubling down its focus on plant-based expertise with a new specialist lab within its Singapore innovation centre, which first opened three years ago.
India energy bar brand Happy Bars will soon be launching a protein bar, followed by a vegan bar later down the road, as it seeks to cater to the rising demand for active nutrition and vegan products in the country.
The ingredient arm of Thai Union Group is exploring further new product development (NPD) opportunities from tuna as it seeks to expand its functional protein offering by emulating the success of the dairy industry in moving into high-value ingredients.
Kids protein shake maker Nutritional Growth Solutions (NGS) is planning to enter the Japanese, South Korean, and Australian markets next year via both online and offline channels.
China has highlighted local meat and poultry industry self-sufficiency goals for the country, emphasising the need for green technology to overcome challenges such as crisis response and slow industrialisation.
The rapidly ageing population in Asia-Pacific is set to boost the active nutrition and medical nutrition space, with a renewed focus on protein as a functional ingredient, according to three experts.
An Indian research institute has developed a range of high protein and fibre foods, including cookies, bread, and rusks specially for COVID-19 patients.
An Indian start-up specialising in making protein bread and cookies saw online sales go up by 15% in mid March, with the firm believing consumers are increasingly making more healthy food choices as COVID-19 continues to spread.
TerViva has become the world’s first F&B firm to develop food products from the pongamia tree, opening the doors to a whole new source of plant-based protein and oils for the industry.
A diet high in egg whites, and to a lesser extent whey protein, could help boost male fertility...but even ‘healthy’ fats appear to have the opposite effect.
