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Chng Weilong

Weilong leads our fundraising efforts by building strong relationships with donors and driving support for GFI APAC’s mission. With over 14 years of experience cultivating strategic partnerships and executing impactful fundraising initiatives, he has helped secure significant funding for causes in education and social services. Weilong's expertise spans strategic donor engagement, community impact, and innovative fundraising, and he continuously fosters a culture of philanthropy and social responsibility. Weilong lives in Singapore.

S’pore calls for proposals from researchers, industry partners to develop tastier novel foods

Achieving price, taste, and nutrition parity between alternative proteins and conventional meat is a non-negotiable factor for market success, and strategic public investments are central to hitting that goal.

Countries in Middle East, Europe look to Singapore for regulatory advice on cultivated meat

Many of the products out on the market right now do not hit taste parity nor nutrition parity but do require a premium price. That is not a very attractive proposition for a consumer. We need government support in getting there.

APAC Stakeholders Develop Communication Guide for Precision Fermentation

Karolien van Emden

Karolien van Emden provides administrative support to GFI APAC’s managing director. With a background in business administration, Karolien brings a strong foundation in project management to the team. Prior to GFI, she worked primarily in software development as a team coach, facilitator, and manager. Her main focus was enhancing team performance, processes, and overall collaboration. In addition to her job, she participated in various volunteering activities, including supporting refugees integrating into the Netherlands. Karolien lives in Singapore.

Jayaroopa Jeyabarathi

Jayaroopa leads GFI APAC's efforts to enhance financing in the alternative protein sector. Before joining GFI, she co-founded an angel network and served as an impact investor, leading the India offices of several impact investing firms. Her investment portfolio spans agriculture, financial services, and sustainability. Additionally, she spearheaded fundraising efforts at a microfinance institution, successfully securing debt, equity, and structured finance. She brings expertise in investing, entrepreneurship, impact, and community building. She holds an MBA from the Xavier Institute of Management, India. Jayaroopa lives in Singapore.

Transforming land use – considerations for APAC

GFI’s land use analysis highlights that alternative proteins require 50 to 90% less land than conventional animal proteins, offering significant opportunities for carbon sequestration and ecosystem restoration. That potential is huge, especially for APAC, home to 19% of the world's forests and 32% of global wetlands. Could this be a game-changer for China and Southeast Asia? Read our latest blog on the study’s implications for APAC.

Scale-up series part 3: Build a force-multiplying team

In part three of our scale-up series, we explore the best way to plan and build a rock-solid team for your startup, and set the company up for success.

Scaling up and partnerships: What do alt protein industry experts say?

In a competitive business environment, scaling up effectively is crucial for long-term success. This complex process involves careful planning, partnerships, and infrastructure investments. This article explores insights from industry experts on key factors that drive growth and expansion.

Alt protein marketing: What do industry experts say?

Creating a new category needs marketing to generate consumer demand. A great product is ineffective if consumers are unaware of it. Marketing shapes consumer perception of the product, company, and category. We consulted industry experts for insights on marketing in this sector.

Go-to-market strategy: What do alt protein industry experts say?

Understanding a new market or launching a product is challenging, especially in the early-stage alternative protein sector. We spoke with top industry experts to learn from their successful go-to-market strategies in this emerging category.

Bridging the Valley of Death: First-of-a-kind fabrications

Check out this exclusive article by Camilla Roberts, CEO of SCALE IMPACT, who explores how innovative government incentives can close the funding gap for first-of-a-kind (FOAK) manufacturing facilities in alternative protein production. By adopting flexible and tailored financing models, we can overcome the challenges of high-risk capital projects and secure a sustainable future for food production.

Product development and sourcing: What do industry experts say?

We asked leading APAC industry experts how they managed to successfully navigate this thicket of potential hurdles.

Korea’s Possibility of Dominating the Cultivated Meat Market

The article highlights the growing cultivated meat market in Korea and the need for continued R&D.

Scale-up series part 2: Your target market(s) may change over time, and that’s okay

In part two of our new scale-up series, we highlight the importance of finding the right market for your product at every stage of growth.

Scale-up series part 1: What do you want to be when you grow up? 4 guiding principles for alternative protein startups looking to scale

The first article in our new monthly Scale-Up Series, written in collaboration with our friends at the Good Food Institute Europe and the Good Food Institute, is a must-read for anyone passionate about the alternative protein sector! To help startups navigate this complex journey, we've outlined four crucial strategic questions that can guide their path to success.

A cover story about the future of meat

While cultivated meat is not yet cleared for commercial sale, Korean regulators began accepting approval applications earlier this year. Shortly afterwards, the nation celebrated the opening of the Gyeongbuk Cell-Cultivated Foods Regulatory-Free Special Zone, which will soon be home to nearly a dozen cultivated meat companies.

Fundraising, burn rate, and pricing: What do industry experts say?

To help startups better navigate choppy waters, we spoke to founders and investors to see how they are responding to recent market challenges.

Asia’s embrace of cultivated meat will bring industry leadership

History has shown that the longer countries wait to invest in the technologies of the future, the harder it is to ever catch up. Asia-Pacific governments and companies clearly see an opportunity to dominate the future of food production and are waving that flag proudly on the global stage.

Some hospitals in Singapore offer plant-based menu options as part of sustainability drive

“By ramping up distribution of plant-based meat through hospitals, governments can empower local manufacturers to scale up their operations, drive down costs through economies of scale, and make healthier, more sustainable foods more affordable for all consumers,” says GFI APAC's Mirte Gosker.

Plant-based meat’s success in Asia boils down to cost and outreach

In a recent study released by GFI APAC, "consumers were unequivocal that what they are truly craving is protein diversity, not wholesale replacement," says Senior Communications Manager Ryan Huling. "That’s an audience worth speaking more directly to."

New data reveals surprising market opportunities for plant-based meat in Southeast Asia

This report examines current and projected rates of plant-based meat adoption, health motivations, high- and low-interest consumer segments, and sentiments on new categories like blended meat. With this roadmap in hand, industry stakeholders can more strategically satisfy consumer demand and capitalise on Southeast Asia’s position as a global protein producer.

Samuel Goh

Samuel works closely with governments and civil society to establish an enabling regulatory and policy environment for the alternative protein sector. Prior to joining GFI, Samuel worked for over nine years in government affairs and public policy, including at the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), where he developed national policies to safeguard food safety and security. Samuel holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Queensland and a bachelor’s in microbiology from the Queensland University of Technology. Samuel lives in Singapore.

Scaling slaughter-free meat is hard. Here’s one way to make it easier.

GFI APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker spoke about how Singapore is scaling up cultivated meat production through international collaborations, and GFI Israel VP of Strategy and Policy Alla Voldman-Rantzer noted, “A platform that is funded by the government is probably the only way that one could put companies, industry partners, and academic groups together to work on collaborative R&D budgets.”

The State of APAC’s Alt Protein Industry in 10 Charts

Everything you need to know about the alternative protein ecosystem in APAC.

2023 APAC State of the Industry Report

More local plant-based protein firms export to Europe, US

Consumers in Europe have “made clear” through demand and sales that they want the plant-based foods category to succeed, said Ms Mirte Gosker, Managing Director of alternative protein think-tank Good Food Institute Asia Pacific.

Islamic scholars rule on how to make lab-grown meat halal

GFI APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker was featured in an article discussing the recent conclusions drawn by Sharia law scholars in Saudi Arabia on halal certification requirements for cultivated meat products. Excerpt: “This week’s ruling provides much-needed insight on what an approval roadmap might look like, and we expect that startups will immediately begin adapting their production processes to satisfy this new guidance.”

Divya Gandhi

Divya works to widen and deepen corporate engagement and partnerships across the alternative protein supply chain. Prior to joining GFI, Divya worked in consulting and strategy for eight years. She has experience working with governments and donor partners—including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank—on large-scale strategic and project implementation advisory engagements. She has designed and implemented multiple campaigns for government and non-government entities, and her professional experience spans a wide variety of countries, including Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Divya lives in India.

Asia will not get to net-zero without changing its diet

ARE determined that decarbonizing Asia's protein system will require peaking industrial animal production no later than 2030, while simultaneously ramping up development of alternative proteins like meat, dairy and eggs made from plants, microbes and cultivated animal cells.

Southeast Asia turns to alternative meats as fight against climate change ramps up

"If nations prioritize the manufacturing and development of alternative proteins, the climate payoff could be colossal." - GFI APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker

Mylk or milk? APAC plant-based dairy sector sees ‘no confusion’ amongst consumers regarding naming conventions

“[Label censorship] has not been a programmatic priority for GFI APAC, as Asian consumers already have deeper familiarity with plant-based milks and the many health benefits they offer.” - GFI APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker

Guest Column: Keeping Up with the Crustaceans

This article was written by Dr. Danai Georgiadou, a scientist from A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI). She also contributes to CRISP Meats, a multi-institutional research programme led by A*STAR to address challenges faced by the industry, and accelerate the development and production of cultivated meat and seafood through public-private partnerships.

Singapore is the world leader in selling cultivated meat

A common challenge for alternative-protein startups is that they need to spend a lot of their initial investment on new equipment. This means they can struggle to become protable without heavy capital outlays. The government has therefore invested in relevant infrastructure such as innovation centres that help startups develop their products and raise capital.

Cell line development and utilisation trends in the cultivated meat industry

Shanghai start-up Changing Bio turns yeast into alternative dairy products to meet China’s surging protein demand

Changing Bio’s microbial ingredient dubbed Kluvy Protein, derived from yeast sourced from the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the town of Shangri-La, is the source of protein of the company’s products. The products are identical to dairy in taste and texture but contain no animal ingredients.

Addressing the talent gaps in S’pore’s budding cultivated meat space

"Cultivated and fermentation-based protein companies tend to be at a much earlier stage of their commercial development, with the majority of their staff still dedicated to resolving more fundamental biological and engineering challenges," said GFI APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker. "Conversely, those in the plant-based meat sector currently employ the majority of food application scientists, as many of these businesses are in the commercialisation stage and are looking to cook up locally relevant products for different markets of consumers."