Call for proposals to enhance taste, nutrition of novel foods

Goal is to boost consumer acceptance of items like plant-based foods, cultivated meat

- Ariel Yu

Singapore is taking steps to develop novel foods that are tastier and more nutritious for consumers here.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Nov 21 started calling for proposals from researchers and industry partners to develop solutions to enhance the appeal of alternative proteins, such as cultivated meat or plant-based foods.

Under the grant call, initiatives that look into the taste, aroma and texture of these products, or efforts that aim to ensure their nutritional value is similar to or better than conventional proteins, could be eligible for funding support.

Negotiators at the UN climate change summit COP29 are still divided over the nature of an international registry that will document carbon trading between countries. Some countries want to limit it to pure accounting functions, while several developing countries want the platform to also perform carbon credit transactions.

The goal, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, is to make such products more acceptable to consumers.

He was speaking on Nov 21 during the Global Agri-Food Scientific Symposium at the Singapore International Agri-Food Week.

Alternative proteins refer to insect proteins, meat made from plants or cultivated from animal cells, or proteins produced via fermentation. They are considered more sustainable as they do not involve animal slaughter, and require less resources, such as land and water, to produce.

Speaking during the event held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Dr Koh said that Singapore is particularly vulnerable to global food supply disruptions as it imports more than 90 per cent of its food.

"Embracing science and technology advancements will also help us grow local agri-food capabilities and create more resilient and sustainable food systems for the future," he said.