Southeast Asia

The economic recession from the coronavirus pandemic will stop almost 24 million people from overcoming poverty in East Asia and the Pacific this year, warned the World Bank. In a new report, the World Bank also said that households…
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A new report by the environmental NGO Tearfund has just revealed the massive plastic and carbon pollution of major drink firms. According to the report, the 4 leading beverage corporations – Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Unilever –…
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While the majority of the headlines about the coronavirus has been bleak, there have been a couple positive stories to emerge from the pandemic as well. The latest sign of hope comes from Chiang Mai in Thailand, where Maesa Elephant Camp…
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Singapore’s food tech startup Shiok Meats has just been named one of Fast Company’s top 10 most innovative companies in Asia-Pacific. Founded in 2018, the startup aims to disrupt the unsustainable US$40 billion shrimp market with its…
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From edible coffee cups to food containers and bags, Indonesia wants to replace plastic with bioplastic alternatives made from seaweed. Currently, the country is the world’s second largest producer of seaweed behind China, making about 8…
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According to the Asia Alternative Protein Industry Report, the first commercially available cultivated food might just happen right here in Asia. While recognising that Asia’s alternative protein development is still in its early stages,…
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While the alternative protein movement is still in its infancy in Asia, Singapore stands out from the crowd and has of late become a central food tech innovation hub in the region. According to the Asia Alternative Protein Industry Report,…
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A partnership between global social enterprise facilitator Ashoka and Deutsche Bank will see the creation of a new accelerator programme specifically for women social entrepreneurs in Asia. Called the Made for Good Accelerator for Women,…
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Vietnam is preparing to ban the trade of wildlife and tighten measures on the illegal trade after a number of conservationist groups called on authorities to take action against the cruel industry. It comes as the world is battling the…
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Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has just invested in New York-based startup C16 Biosciences in a Series A funding round that attracted US$20 million in total. The startup uses bioreactors in their labs to grow an oil alternative that is…
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International Women’s Day is internationally recognised on the March 8th every year, and represents a focal point for women’s rights and is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. With climate…
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Singapore has a S$100 billion plan to help the city-state adapt to a world stricken by the climate crisis. The island nation’s plan targets measures to survive in high temperatures and floodwaters as global heating continues to escalate,…
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Singapore-based spirits distributor Proof & Company has just launched its zero-waste solution to spirits packaging, ecoSPIRITS. Their technology is the first of its kind in the world to tackle the carbon footprint and waste associated…
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In a new report published by environmental organisation Global Canopy, some of the world’s major brands have continued to fail in making any commitments against deforestation in their supply chains. Many of the culprits are located in…
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This may come as a surprise to you, but street stalls in the Philippines are loaded with meat and dairy-free options. Whilst sizzling baboy (pork) and Pinoy roast manok (chicken) still feature heavily on most sidewalks in Manila, you don’t…
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Food processing technology giant Bühler and major flavour and fragrance manufacturer Givaudan is to build a new Innovation Center dedicated to plant-based food in Singapore. Opening later this year, the facility will host food processing…
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The administration of President Joko Widodo in Indonesia is currently pushing a slate of environmental deregulation policies through proposing over 1,200 amendments to 80 existing laws in parliament. While the government claims that these…
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Singaporean startup Lumitics, a food waste technology company, has recently secured US$557,000 in an oversubscribed seed funding round. The financing was led by boutique early stage investment firm ReadyVentures and angel investor and…
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Singapore startup TurtleTree Labs, the makers of dairy milk without cows, will be launching lab-grown breast milk by 2021. Originally only focused on disrupting the unsustainable dairy farming industry with their lab-grown cow’s milk, the…
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Now that the Year of the Rat is in full swing, all kinds of health, fitness and wellness events are popping up across the region. As more of us are hoping to get healthier, stronger and fitter, here’s what’s lined up for Asia in 2020 from…
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Singapore-based startup Pass It On is making plantable candles and helping reforestation efforts in Bali at the same time. Not only are their entire range of soy wax candles packaged completely plastic-free, the pots themselves can be…
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