Berlin/Lausanne (20 February 2023)
More than 200 participants representing over $54 million of available capital per investment took part in the third edition of the successful New Food Invest conference series, which focused this time on the Asia Pacific region.
The New Food Invest APAC online conference was held on 15 February and co-hosted by global food awareness organisation, ProVeg International, and business networking and investment platform Beyond Animal.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for plant-based companies and investors to get together, to fully understand the landscape in Asia for plant-based companies and, of course, to get involved in dealmaking to accelerate innovative products to market,” Antje Raeuscher, co-head of ProVeg Incubator, ProVeg’s alternative protein accelerator, said.
Focusing on the Asia Pacific markets, the conference covered the current state of affairs with alternative protein, sustainable finance and corporate investment in Asia as well as panels focusing on China and India and those ingredients of most relevance to the Asian market.
Among the organisations presenting was the Good Food Institute APAC, which revealed that investments into alternative protein companies in Asia Pacific rose substantially from 2021 to 2022 in all three pillars of alternative proteins: plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated. Year-on-year, total APAC alternative protein investments increased by 43%, from $392 million to $562 million.
Malte Clausen, a partner and associate director at global management consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group, shared insights from the organisation’s upcoming report called “Taking Alternative Proteins Mainstream”.
Claire Smith, Founder of Beyond Animal, expressed delight at the number of expert speakers, investors and participants, commenting that attendance figures bode well for future New Food Invest events.
“There is strong interest in the plant-based market globally and it is a market that continues to grow at a swift pace, and especially in Asia Pacific, which is fast catching up with Europe and the Americas. Many companies and investors recognise the value of a conference like New Food Invest, which is exclusively focused on overcoming the challenges of the current funding environment and taking advantage of the opportunities that it offers,” Smith said.
Key support for the conference
Key conference supporter was Beyond Impact with its mission: “Accelerating the transition to a kinder, cleaner, healthier world” through investing in animal alternatives. New Food Invest also received support from MECO, which is building the next generation of water purification equipment and systems to provide efficient, effective solutions with sustainability squarely at the core.
Support also came from media partners FoodTalks, Foodaily, Green Queen, Yisujie, VCearth and 21food.cn.
Company and investor participation
Among the plant-based companies at the event were UMAMI, a Singapore-based, cultivated seafood startup, Shiok Meats, a cultivated meat and seafood company also based in Singapore, Eden Brew, a company specialising in animal-free dairy products, and Cultimate Foods, which makes a cultivated fat alternative for plant-based meat.
Among those lining up to talk about investing in the plant-based market in Asia were Impact Investment Fund, Seneca Impact Advisors, Dao Foods and Ahimsa Investments.
Looking ahead
New Food Invest will continue its series focusing on the North and South American market.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media inquiries about New Food Invest, email Peter Rixon at [email protected]
For more information and inquiries about Beyond Animal, please email: [email protected]
About ProVeg International
ProVeg is an international food awareness organisation working to transform the global food system by replacing conventional animal-based products with plant-based and cultured alternatives.
ProVeg works with international decision-making bodies, governments, food producers, investors, the media, and the general public to help the world transition to a society and economy that are less dependent on animal agriculture and more sustainable for humans, animals, and the planet.
ProVeg has permanent-observer status with the UNFCCC, is accredited for UNEA, and has received the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Award. ProVeg also has Observer Status at the IPCC.
About Beyond Animal: a leading digital networking and investment platform
Beyond Animal is a digital platform that aims to accelerate the growth of a sustainable, humane, economy by providing networking, collaboration, resources, and investor matchmaking and dealmaking for a fast and efficient fundraising process. App freely available on the AppStore and Google Play and private dealroom open to qualified investors. More details can be found at www.beyondanimal.com.
