Blended Meat Takes Center Stage in Japan's Food Tech Scene
Ginga Foods, a Japanese pork manufacturer, has launched a 'half-and-half sausage' that combines 50% pork with 50% plant-based meat from Mama Foods, a subsidiary of Next Meats. This move aims to tap into Japan's growing health-conscious and sustainable food market.
Blended meat products have been gaining traction in the Western alternative protein sector, offering a way to bridge the flavour gap between plant-based and animal-based sources. These products also provide better-for-you options with less saturated fat and cholesterol, as well as added fibre. Furthermore, they offer a more sustainable option by replacing some amount of animal protein with plant-based ingredients, which can lower the associated climate impact. In Japan, where meat consumption reached a historic low last year, two companies have partnered to offer a blended meat product to food manufacturers. Ginga Foods, a pork manufacturer based in Hanamaki, has unveiled a "half-and-half sausage" that combines 50% pork with 50% plant-based meat from Mama Foods, a subsidiary of Hokkaido-based Next Meats. ## A Healthier and More Sustainable Option The "next-generation" sausage has 70% lower fat and 50% fewer calories than conventional versions. It also benefits from 2.2g of dietary fibre, which is hardly ever found in a 100% pork sausage. This product is positioned to help restaurants make their food supply healthier and more planet-friendly, and solve the taste and texture issues that plague 100% plant-based meat products. Ginga Foods is gearing the product for use in restaurants, hotels, and resorts, the consumer packaged goods sector, company cafeterias, as well as school lunches, where it can fit into more health-conscious menus. The company aims to accelerate its expansion into the health-conscious market and the sustainable food market through the sale of this product. ## Aligning with Japan's Food Tech Goals The blended sausage plays directly into the Japanese government's goal to expand domestic and international sales of future foods to ¥3T ($19M) by 2040, with plant-based products set to play a central role. The government has announced a public-private investment roadmap that projects cumulative financing of ¥370T ($2.3T) across 17 economic sectors, with four of these related to food tech accounting for a total of ¥9.7T ($60B) in investment. Japan wants to become the most advanced bioeconomy society by 2030, and has previously announced an $8B fund to support biomanufacturing, before identifying food tech as a priority growth sector. The government plans to initially target health- and climate-conscious consumers in Europe and the US with these future foods, before expanding into Asia. Blended meat is already making a mark in Europe and North America, with supermarkets and foodservice providers across the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, and the US all launching such products within the last couple of years.
