Image by Haofood

AgriFoodTech startups from across the Asia-Pacific region are emerging as powerful catalysts for food system transformation, representing a dynamic force in Forward Fooding’s 2024 FoodTech 500 rankings. From Singapore’s cellular agriculture pioneers to Australia’s precision farming leaders, APAC companies are addressing both regional food security imperatives and global sustainability challenges with groundbreaking solutions.

The FoodTech 500: APAC’s Growing Innovation Footprint

The FoodTech 500 is a rich platform for the most innovative startups and scaleups in the industry. The 2024 edition received 1,420 applications from over 80 countries. Among the finalists, 61 companies from the Asia-Pacific region secured their place on this prestigious list, accounting for 12.8% of the total finalists; a testament to the region’s rapidly maturing and increasingly influential AgriFoodTech ecosystem.

The Numbers Behind APAC’s Innovation Surge

The Asia-Pacific region has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for food technology innovation. Home to approximately 60% of the global population, APAC faces unique challenges in food security, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience, driving unprecedented technological advancements.

According to Forward Fooding’s FoodTech Data Navigator, the region is home to over 2,200+ startups and scale-ups. Since 2014, approximately $87B+ in investments have poured into APAC’s AgriFoodTech sector, with activities heavily concentrated in AgTech, Next-Gen Food and Drink, and Food Delivery. In 2024, the industry saw a 38% increase in funding, with companies raising $4.2B.

Population growth, urbanization, and economic expansion are projected to significantly boost both food production and demand across Asia and the Pacific by 2030. However, rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme climate events continue to challenge agricultural productivity, particularly in South, Southeast, and Central Asia, making technological innovation more crucial than ever.

APAC’s Innovation Powerhouses

When examining the regional landscape of APAC AgriFoodTech, several countries have emerged as distinct centers of excellence:

Singapore has positioned itself as the undisputed hub for cellular agriculture and alternative proteins. The city-state’s “30 by 30” initiative, backed by USD$30M in government funding, aims to produce 30% of nutritional needs locally by 2030. Singapore’s progressive regulatory framework, including being the first country to approve cultivated meat for commercial sale, has created an enabling environment for next-generation food companies to thrive.

Australia leverages its vast agricultural lands and exposure to climate challenges to drive innovation in precision farming, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart solutions. Australian companies are at the forefront of developing technologies that enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact across large-scale farming operations.

India is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse for agricultural biotechnology and digital farming solutions. With the world’s second-largest population and a massive agricultural sector employing hundreds of millions, Indian startups are developing solutions that improve smallholder farmer productivity, market access, and income stability.

South Korea is applying its advanced technology expertise to revolutionize food production, with innovations spanning cellular agriculture, retail tech, and sustainable food processing that leverage AI and automation.

Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, are developing region-specific solutions for tropical agriculture, aquaculture, insect farming, and plant-based foods that cater to local tastes and dietary preferences.

China, Hong Kong, and New Zealand round out the region’s innovation landscape with contributions spanning cellular agriculture, supply chain solutions, and sustainable food technologies.

Government Support and Policy Innovation

Image by Vow

APAC governments have implemented robust initiatives to nurture their AgriFoodTech ecosystems:

• The Singapore Food Agency has established clear, science-based regulatory pathways for novel foods, making it one of the world’s most innovation-friendly jurisdictions for alternative proteins and cellular agriculture. This regulatory clarity has attracted companies from around the globe to establish operations in the city-state.
• The Australian government continues to invest significantly in agricultural research and development, with programs supporting drought-resistant crop development, precision agriculture adoption, and sustainable farming practices crucial for one of the world’s driest inhabited continents.
• India’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched ambitious digital agriculture initiatives aimed at bringing technology to millions of smallholder farmers, including programs for digital financing, market access, and precision farming tools tailored to small landholdings.

These policy frameworks create supportive environments that enable startups to pursue bold innovations while navigating clear pathways to market success, ultimately accelerating the pace of food system transformation across the region.

Meet the APAC FoodTech 500 Finalists

These Asia-Pacific companies have secured spots in the 2024 FoodTech 500, showcasing outstanding innovation, growth, and impact within the AgriFoodTech sector:

Starfield (#7 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Develops plant-based proteins

Nuvilab (#11 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Retail Tech | Provides comprehensive food-related information, such as details on leftover food, user preferences, optimized menu recommendations, and nutritional benefits

Varaha (#16 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Specializes in nature-based solutions to promote climate adaptation, biodiversity, water conservation, and increased income for smallholder land stewards

Intello Labs (#17 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Uses image matching and machine learning to measure the quality of crops

GoodDot (#20 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Manufactures plant-based meat

Crowde (#28 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Provides financing, market access, logistics, and data-driven insights to empower Indonesian farmers

Vow (#38 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Creates unique and delicious meat products that enhance accessibility to novel meat options

Eratani (#41 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Connects farmers to markets through technological innovations, offering integrated eKYC for financing, kiosk management via a command center, and crop sales facilitation

Umami Bioworks (#55 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Integrates stem cell biology, machine learning, and automation, to create the “Intel Inside” of cultivated fish production

Cellmeat (#61 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Produces culture solution essential for developing cultured meat

Fresho (#63 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | B2B Marketplaces | Creates a seamless ordering experience between fresh food suppliers and venues

Cauldron (#67 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Specializes in bio-acceleration processes for precision fermentation

Wada FoodTech (#80 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Provides a patented bento machine and hot-chain logistics total solution that ensures food remains at a safe temperature throughout the entire logistics chain

DepoDone (#96 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | B2B Marketplaces | Provides robust storage, delivery, and order management solutions with real-time tracking and visibility

Farmbyte (#109 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Provides a digital platform that streamlines the entire agro-food value chain

AgriVijay (#111 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Offers a curated platform, both offline and online, that brings together a wide range of renewable energy products specifically designed for agriculture

Nanomik Biotechnology (#115 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Produces next-generation biofungicides designed to increase the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables

DiMuto (#118 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Supply Chain Monitoring & Traceability | Provides a global trade network that connects farmers, packhouses, distributors, and retailers to bring traceable and safe agrifood products to consumers

AgUnity (#120 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Provides digital tools for supply chain management and empowers small-scale rural farmers in developing countries through the use of blockchain technology

FarmLab (#126 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Offers a range of services, from soil sampling for fertiliser budgets to developing carbon offset projects and measuring Natural Capital

Simple Planet (#143 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Specializes in developing future food and functional ingredients using cell culture technology

UniFAHS (#169 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Provides sustainable alternatives to antibiotics and chemicals

Forte Biotech (#176 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Offers easy-to-use on-site PCR Tests to manage farming disease risks

Stacked Farm (#194 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Provides access to safe, quality, and healthy food all year round through their highly automated indoor vertical farming technology

WhatIF Foods (#203 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Offers high-protein noodles and plant-based milk made from bambara groundnut

SWAN Systems (#204 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Provides a cloud-based platform for precision irrigation and nutrient management for agriculture

Bioloop (#221 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects Farming & Aquaculture | Utilises Black Soldier Flies to upcycle palm oil waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser

Eden Brew (#226 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Provides sustainable and nutritious dairy products through precision fermentation

N&E Innovations (#232 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Turns food waste into a powerful antimicrobial substance/additive

IXON (#234 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Keeps meat and seafood fresh at room temperature through advanced sous-vide aseptic packaging

Haofood (#239 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Creates innovative plant-based proteins inspired by Asian cuisine, using advanced extrusion technology

Wastespresso (#240 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Sustainable Packaging & Plastic Alternatives | Transforms spent coffee grounds into bioplastics and biomaterial

Shandi Global (#246 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Develops technology to create plant-based chicken products that closely resemble real chicken in terms of taste, texture, and nutritional composition

Zero Cow Factory (#250 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Produces India’s first animal-free milk protein and dairy products using bioengineering the microbes & precision fermentation

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Wide Open Agriculture (#251 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Transforms lupin bean into high-quality plant-based protein, fibres, oils, and bioactive compounds 

MOVE ON (#253 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Robotics & Machinery | Offers AI-based agtech solutions that transform tractors and provide data-driven cloud computing for sustainable agriculture

Cellivate Technologies (#262 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Provides proprietary platform technologies and products to accelerate the growth of cells for cellular meat companies

Good Food Technologies (#272 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Specializes in plant-based cuisines, starting with pork and dimsums

Lyro Robotics (#274 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Designs, develops, and deploys next-gen robots trusted by farmers and packing operators across Australia

Piatrika Biosystems (#279 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Offers a Seed Discovery platform for genomic discoveries and plant breeding decision support

Float Foods (#281 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Offers true-to-form alternative egg technology

ClearMeat (#294 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Produces and sells cultivated meat and ingredients globally

Farmbot Monitoring Solutions (#320 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Develops world-leading tech to help farmers save time, improve sustainability & productivity with remote monitoring solutions

FlyFarm Systems (#321 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects Farming & Aquaculture | Offers automated BSF insect farming systems and solutions

Pairtree Intelligence (#337 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Offers a business intelligence and integration platform for the agriculture industry

Scentian Bio (#348 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Combines synthetic biology with AI to create digital biosensors to detect and quantify volatile organic compounds for quality assurance of food & beverage

ProMeat (#359 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Creates high-quality, plant-based meat alternatives

Prefer (#361 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Uses fermentation to create coffee from food by-products

Whole. (#363 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Specializes in the production of plant-based ingredients and flavors using proprietary technology 

Cetogenix (#393 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Transforms waste into useful products, such as renewable natural gas, renewable chemicals, and biomaterials

Andfoods (#394 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Produces next-generation plant-based dairy alternative ingredients and foodservice creams

AgriG8 (#402 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Connects financial institutions with rice farmers to promote inclusive financing and sustainable agriculture

Allium Bio (#405 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Combines symbiotic microorganisms into next-generation functional food ingredients

Sophie’s Bionutrients (#428 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Develops sustainable plant-based protein made from microalgae using fermentation technologies

Jooules (#433 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Creates ethical protein ingredients from CO2 emissions

UPAJ (#434 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Offers farmers solutions on data, analytics, advisory services, soil testing, and digital insurance

Global Bugs Asia (#441 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects | Creates sustainable food ingredients through innovative research on cricket powder from Acheta Domestica

Opo Bio (#447 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Develops the enabling technology for novel biomanufacturing applications, including cultivated meat

Natural Trace (#451 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Supply Chain Monitoring & Traceability | Provides advanced biotechnology-driven solutions for product traceability and authentication

Green Eco Technologies (#462 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Upcycled Ingredients, Food Surplus & Waste Efficiency | Manufactures onsite technology to repurpose food and organic waste

Fattastic Technologies (#463 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Provides customizable, healthier, and sustainable fat solutions for food manufacturers

Download the full 2024 FoodTech 500 list here.

 

Looking Ahead

With robust investment momentum, progressive regulatory frameworks in key markets, and a diverse innovation infrastructure spanning multiple countries and verticals, APAC’s AgriFoodTech companies are strategically positioned to address both regional food security challenges and global sustainability imperatives.

The 61 companies recognized in the 2024 FoodTech 500 exemplify the Asia-Pacific region’s increasingly influential role in driving the transformation of global food systems toward greater resilience, sustainability, and equity. As the region continues to grapple with climate change, urbanization, and growing food demand, these innovators are developing the technologies and business models that will define the future of food; not just for APAC’s billions, but for the entire world.

From Singapore’s cellular agriculture breakthroughs to India’s smallholder empowerment platforms, from Australia’s precision farming advances to Southeast Asia’s tropical agriculture innovations, APAC companies are proving that the future of food will be shaped by solutions that are as diverse as the region itself.

 

Ready to make your mark on the future of food? The Forward Fooding FoodTech 500 2025 is calling for applications from groundbreaking companies. Don’t miss your chance to be recognized. APPLY NOW!

 

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