Dr Norbert Riedel, Ambassador of German Embassy to Singapore,

 

Dr Claus-Georg Nette, Chairman of Cremer,

 

Mr Pradeep Pant, Chairman of Board of Asia Sustainable Foods Platform,

 

Mr Mathys Boeren, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Sustainable Foods Platform,

 

Distinguished guests,

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

Good morning.

 

 

1. It is my pleasure to join you here today for the opening ceremony of Cremer Sustainable Foods’ new Contract Development and Manufacturing Operation (CDMO) facility.

 

Opening

 

2. Since the introduction of the Impossible Burger in 2016, there has been a surge in interest in plant-based proteins. Many companies have been trying to perfect the art and science of plant-based proteins, for example by making their taste closer to the real thing, reducing their environmental footprint, and increasing their nutritional value.

 

3. Investment interest has also been strong. In 2021, the sector saw a 40% increase globally in the number of investors. Global sales of plant-based meat passed the US$5 billion mark last year, reflecting strong consumer demand. The plant-based food market is expected to make up 7.7% of the global protein market by 2030, with a value of over US$162 billion, more than a 5-fold increase from 2020.

 

Singapore’s plant-based protein sector

 

4. Singapore is the world’s second-largest trading hub for agri-commodities, which are critical raw materials for plant-based proteins.

 

a. As one of the top five logistics hubs globally, we are well positioned to pave the way for companies in urban food solutions to capture key Asian markets like China, India and Japan.

 

b. Singapore is well-positioned with the relevant expertise to develop the agri-food sector. We are home to the R&D (Research and Development) hubs of the world’s top companies in Food and Nutrition, Flavours and Fragrances, and food ingredients, such as Abbott, Nestle, and Danone.

 

c. We also strive to support the growth agri-food sector through progressive and forward-looking regulations for novel food products. Singapore is the first country in the world to approve the sale of cell-cultured chicken meat for consumption, a  product created by the company, Eat Just.

 

Working with like-minded partners to grow the alternative protein sector

 

5. To grow our agri-food ecosystem, we encourage like-minded partners to come together to build capabilities in talent development, innovation and supporting infrastructure.

 

6. We are delighted that Temasek, via the Asia Sustainable Food (ASF) platform, will be investing in the infrastructure for the production of alternative proteins through pilots and demo-scale facilities.

 

a. As an enabler, operator, and investor, ASF supports food-tech companies at all stages of their growth cycle and also contributes to the development of solutions.

 

b. Startups can leverage shared facilities to develop and scale-up their production process and accelerate their product commercialisation.

 

c. With a network of corporates and startups working together, alternative protein technologies can be brought to market even quicker.

 

7. The joint venture of Cremer Sustainable Foods brings together two valued partners; Temasek and Cremer, an established German agri-food multinational with advanced expertise in plant-based protein.

 

a. This facility will enable the production of plant-based analogues with high consistency and texture that closely mimic that of conventional meat. It can produce up to 1,000 tonnes of plant-based products each year.

 

b. Cremer’s expertise in the operation of high moisture extrusion (HME) facilities will augment Singapore’s manufacturing capabilities and provide valuable support for businesses in the sector. In Asia, there are only a few companies with mature HME capabilities.

 

Conclusion

 

8. With partners like Temasek and Cremer, Singapore hopes to bring together innovators in this field, strengthen our agri-food ecosystem, foster greater knowledge sharing across the industry, and ultimately create a more sustainable future.

 

9. In closing, I would like to congratulate Temasek and Cremer on the launch of the CDMO facility. I wish you every success in your endeavours.

 

10. Thank you.