Givaudan and Bühler launch centre to develop plant-based protein alternatives

BUSINESSES in the Asia-Pacific can now look forward to a new Protein Innovation Centre set up by fragrance company Givaudan and Swiss processing and manufacturing company Bühler.

Launched on Monday, the centre in Woodlands will be where businesses can develop their novel ideas on plant-based protein alternatives into commercial, large-scale products for the mass market.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, the guest of honour at the launch of the centre, welcomed the collaboration as a "boost to the alternative protein industry".

"As a land-scarce nation, Singapore is in a unique position to look towards technology and meat alternatives to bolster its food security. This is one of our key pillars for the Singapore Green Plan 2030," said Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth.

Givaudan, which specialises in taste and fragrance, will work with Bühler to incorporate flavours well-liked by consumers in the region into plant proteins, with the goal to mimic flavours in animal meat as closely as possible.

Monila Kothari, president for the Asia-Pacific at Givaudan's Taste & Wellbeing division, said: "Through the Protein Innovation Centre, we aim to create an eco-system that supports start-ups and food businesses in an environment of co-creation.

"The centre will provide companies access to the expertise, networks and technology required to create authentic plant-based protein alternatives that meet consumer needs and expectations," she said.

Spanning 400 sq m in size, the facility can produce up to 40 kg of plant proteins an hour.

With extensive research and development, Alex Ward, the company's head of regional innovation, said the new facility will help start-ups build a pipeline of new products and provide credibility to the products they develop.

Mr Ward said he believes that the centre, which will work with one customer at a time, will give start-ups "access to a global network of experts which they can't get in the one country they are usually based in".

Completed in March 2021, the facility is already in discussion to work with more than five start-ups, which will use the facility to improve their products.

Said Ian Roberts, chief technology officer at Bühler: "The Protein Innovation Centre will not only enable the development of more plant-based protein products across Asia, it will also ensure delicious products can be scaled to the production volumes required to create a positive environmental impact on our food chains."