Singapore Puts $5.3M Behind Food Waste Upcycling Projects

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) has awarded $5.3 million to three research projects focused on upcycling food and brewery waste into commercial products. This initiative falls under NEA’s Closing the Resource Loop (CTRL) Funding Initiative, in response to the 11% of waste generated in Singapore being food waste in 2025. One of the recipients, Mottainai Food Tech, is working on converting barley waste from beer production into plant-based tuna flakes, with plans for more tuna-based products in the future.

Two other projects include converting used coffee grounds into phase change materials for sustainable cold chain applications, and leveraging vegetable peel to produce food flavourings, animal feed, and crop fertiliser. Dr. Christian Hermansen from A*STAR's Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation highlighted the broader bioeconomy potential for Singapore, projecting a multi-trillion dollar contribution in the next decade. This funding aims to support research, innovation, and commercialisation of products from food and brewery waste, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy in Singapore.