Japan-Singapore MOU: Targeting climate-resilient food supplies
Japan is turning to food technology to help safeguard food supplies against climate change, with a new Japan-Singapore memorandum of understanding (MOU) set to support bilateral collaboration in agri-food innovation.
Yoshihiro Kuraya, assistant minister at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), cited declining rice grain quality amid rising temperatures and falling salmon catches linked to changes in sea temperatures as examples of the challenges facing food production.
DBS on trade shocks and tech shifts: Why Asia matters to global growth
Businesses should look beyond US growth and prepare for a shift that could see Asia become an important source of global innovation.
From diversifying trade beyond the United States to opportunities arising from AI and the green transition, DBS Bank Managing Director and Chief Economist Taimur Baig outlined where businesses could find growth amid global disruption.
Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Summit 2026, Baig’s outlook centred on two major themes: the resilience of global trade despite geopolitical disruption, and a shift in the centre of technological innovation from West to East.
How major F&B firms are applying healthy longevity in product innovation
From building gut microbiome databases to designing personalized nutrition, major food and beverage companies Nestle, Charoen Pokphand Foods and Calbee are innovating with healthy longevity in mind.
For example, AMILI is collaborating with Japanese snack maker Calbee to provide a personalised nutrition service called Body Granola, which consists of a microbiome gut health test and granola subscription.
Protein in Asia: Where food brands can find growth
Asian consumers are seeking protein for health needs in many formats, and food brands must seize their opportunities wisely.
Within Asia, three areas stood out – protein claims associated with gut health grew from 13–23%; those related to immunity increased from 16–22%, and skin health claims grew from 12–18%.
Whey remains a leading protein ingredient, but brands are exploring other sources and applications. Collagen, for instance, is appearing in beauty-from-within formats such as Mashiro’s nighttime collagen drink, which target skin health and other wellness needs.
APAC Global Food Tech Awards 2026 spotlights food waste, compliance and functional foods
South Korea-based food-tech startup FutureSense is the winner of the 2026 APAC Global Food Tech Awards (GFTA), which features start-ups that showcase how their technology could impact the food system.
FutureSense’s winning product is Food4Chain, a traceability platform that quantifies food loss and associated costs in real time, helping businesses identify inefficiencies and gain greater visibility into their supply chains.
The other finalists in the Top 3 from Australia and Taiwan focused on regulatory compliance and plant-based functional ingredients respectively.
Read more about the APAC Global Food Tech Awards 2026 finalists here.
