Japan To Invest $6.2 Billion In Alternative Proteins And Other ‘New Foods’

The Japanese government has announced a draft public-private investment roadmap worth $2.3 trillion, with over $6.2 billion allocated for novel food technologies, including plant-based and alternative proteins. This investment is part of Japan's Growth Strategy, which aims to invest in 17 sectors and 62 products and technologies by 2040. Four of these sectors are related to food tech, with a total of around $60 billion earmarked for development, particularly focusing on 'new foods' like alternative proteins that are functional, nutritious, and non-animal-derived.

This strategy, presented by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is part of a larger effort towards crisis management and growth investment. While the draft document does not specifically mention cultivated meat products, Japan's food tech industry, including startups like Organoid Farm, are working towards commercial production. The country's flexitarians are driving a shift towards vegan foods, and the government is also working on draft guidelines for manufacturers of cultivated meat and seafood looking to bring these products to market.