In Japan, alternative protein startups Umami United and IntegriCulture have received government funds to help advance product development and scale-up.
Tokyo-based Umami, which produces an egg alternative from konjac flour, bittern and wood-eared mushrooms, received $6.5 million. Company CEO Hiroto Yamazaki recently told Green Queen that Umami was in talks with plant-based food makers in the United Kingdom and Germany to use the company’s egg replacer. “They have tested our products and initial responses are positive,” Yamazaki said. “As for the US, we are also in late-stage talks with universities in Southern California to incorporate our products in their vegan menus.”
Meanwhile, IntegriCulture received $13.1 million. The company hopes to make its CulNet cellular ag platform open source to accelerate alternative protein commercialization.
Tags: Japan, Japan awards
Category: Chemicals & Materials
