Vol.32:Main dishes disappear from Japanese dining tables | Plant-Based Microbeads from China: A GLP-1 Alternative?

Welcome back to Foodtech EYES, where UnlocX brings you the latest global food innovation news and community updates.

We recently held Foodtech Venture Day NEO vol.4 on August 26, 2025. The theme for this event was "Machines & Devices x The Future of Food and Agriculture," and seven device manufacturers gave pitch presentations. These included Alphatec (temperature-controlled grinding technology), M-Plus (liquid flash freezers), Thinker (robotic hands that move like human fingertips), Byte Bites and F-EAT (3D printing technology), Plantex (enclosed plant factories), and Morirobo (crepe robots). Morirobo won the FVD Award and has been selected to exhibit at SKS JAPAN 2025 (October 23-25). Don’t miss the chance to see their next-generation crepe robot in action!

Also, the FVD NEO website is now live! It features recaps of past events, articles on participating startups, and will provide updates on upcoming activities—stay tuned!

Well, this time I'm bringing you the latest food tech news, and one thing that caught my attention was the developments surrounding cultured meat. The Food Tech Public-Private Council’s Cellular Agriculture Working Team has decided to use “cellular food” as the standard term when referring to “foods made from cultured cells,” a category previously labeled “cultured meat”. The press release reveals the dilemma that led to the decision on this name, as it sought to communicate the value of this technology to consumers. Meanwhile, a surprising statistic has been released in China, showing that 45% of consumers are willing to eat so-called cell-cultured protein. And in India, a cooking competition using cultured chicken was held —perhaps one day we’ll see butter chicken curry made with cultured chicken?

This issue brings you carefully selected articles of noteworthy articles from Japan and abroad.

This edition is an English translation of the original Foodtech Eyes published in Japanese on September 3, 2025.

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Table of contents of this issue

・INSIGHTS from RECENT MUST READ ARTICLES

・MUST READ ARTICLES

・COMMUNITY NEWS

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INSIGHTS from RECENT MUST READ ARTICLES

✍This issue’s spotlight starts with Japan’s changing food culture. Traditionally, *ichiju-sansai* (one soup, three dishes) has supported balanced meals, but a clear trend is emerging: the decline of the “main dish”. According to a survey by Intage Kitchen Diary , the number of times staple foods made with meat or fish are served will decrease by 11% between 2015 and 2024, with a 25% drop in breakfast in particular. It seems that an increasing number of households are only having bread or cereal for breakfast.

In the United States, which was one of the first countries to promote the simplification of food, the Rockefeller Foundation and others are trying to popularize the Food is Medicine program , but it has been pointed out that awareness is not increasing. This article describes the stakeholders who are promoting the Food is Medicine program.

What really surprised us was research from Sichuan University in China on a plant-based alternative to GLP-1. A research team at Sichuan University in China has developed plant-based "microbeads." These tiny edible beads bind to fat in the intestines, inhibiting its absorption, and are said to have similar effects to Ozempic. They are virtually tasteless and odorless, and can be added to drinks—even boba tea. Perhaps they'll taste similar to tapioca? Human clinical trials have reportedly begun in China. These microbeads feature a fat-binding core chemically bonded with green tea polyphenols and vitamin E, coated with a seaweed-derived polymer. Given the vast obesity market, China’s speed in advancing this alternative highlights its strategic approach.

Speaking of food functionality, an article on Nutraingredients summarized the trends in supplement formulations that combine multiple ingredients. Trends mentioned included Beauty from Within, sports nutrition, skin and acne care, gut health, mental health, and women's wellness.

One startup development that caught my attention was the news that a Singaporean alternative coffee startup announced a partnership with Ajinomoto Co. (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The startup produces alternative coffee powder by processing rice and soybean residues through fermentation. It is said that coffee production will decrease dramatically in the future, which has been referred to as coffee's "2050 problem." With this as a background, alternative coffees are now attracting attention.

MUST READ ARTICLES

The article mentioned above is here👇

EATERS TREND

(Data Insights) The number of main dishes served at the dinner table has decreased by 11% in 10 years

Nikkei MJ 2025/8/25

FOOD FOR WELL-BEING

Americans want more 'food is medicine' programs to fight chronic disease. Cost and access still bar the way

AgFunder News 2025/8/20

FUTURE FOOD

Weight-Loss Boba: Could Plant-Based Microbeads Be A Natural Alternative to Ozempic?

Green Queen 2025/8/26

FUTURE FOOD

The Rise of hybrid formulation

Nutraingredients USA 2025/8/21

FUTURE FOOD

Singapore's Prefer Brews Up $4.2M in Funding for Bean-Free Coffee & Cocoa

Green Queen 2025/8/12

[EVENT] Frozen Sushi Event (9/19) NEW

Daybreak Inc. (Head office: Shinagawa, Tokyo; CEO: Masayuki Kinoshita), a company specializing in advanced freezing solutions, has declared 2025 the start of the “Frozen Sushi Era.” On Friday, September 19, they will host an event at Tokyo Innovation Base (Yurakucho, Tokyo) to showcase the appeal of high-quality frozen sushi made possible through innovations in freezing technology and recipes.(From the official website)

Learn more

[EVENT] Higashi Mikawa FOOD DAYS 2025 (September 19-20)

For two days, Higashi Mikawa will come alive with food. Producers, chefs, buyers, startups, and people from diverse fields will gather for this energetic, chaotic annual event. This annual event is coming again this year.

We bring together people and content related to food and agriculture in Higashi Mikawa to discuss and connect with each other.

"Higashi Mikawa FOOD DAYS" held. (From the official website)

Our company's Tanaka will be speaking at the opening talk. Please come along!

Learn more

[EVENT]SKS JAPAN 2025 (10/23-25)

Around the world, the urgency of addressing food-related social challenges continues to grow. How can we enrich both the planet and individual lives, keep creating new value, and design the food systems and ecosystems needed to support this? Now in its seventh year, SKS JAPAN will reflect on these global trends while also identifying Japan’s unique responsibilities. We believe the key is to bring together wisdom across countries, regions, and industries to create an environment where sustainable co-creation can thrive. Our goal is for this community to unite, take action, and drive real-world change.

Learn more

[EVENT] Food and Beverage Revolution (12/1)

“Food Revolution” is a monthly gathering where leaders in restaurant tech come together with prominent industry figures to exchange ideas over food and drinks. It’s a place to build connections and spark new DX concepts. Guest: Hirotaka Tanaka, CEO of UnlocX Inc.

*This is an event with limited participants. Please check the official page below for details.

Learn more

[PODCAST] Cutting-edge food tech radio "Tabemono Integral" #24 [Experience Corner] Tokiwa-so of food? The Sustainable Food Museum where long-established businesses and startups come together

The Sustainable Food Museum, which opened in Shimbashi and Toranomon, is a space where you can experience the future of food, combining a cafe and coworking space. You can sample unique menu items created through collaborations between established companies and startups, and the walls are covered with ideas from 100 sustainable food companies. This place where you can encounter the food of the future is sure to change your perception of food. (From the official website)

Listen here

[PODCAST] Food Radio ~Learn about food in an interesting way~ #266 (s54-8) Early American food culture ~Pennsylvania edition~

Quaker William Penn acquired a vast tract of land in exchange for a certain gift and founded Pennsylvania. There, he built Philadelphia and advocated religious freedom. Amid a diverse population, German immigrants brought their own unique cultures, including "horse-drawn carriages" and "delicatessens," while Jewish immigrants brought their own financial system to "Wall Street" (from the official website).

Listen here

The podcast can be listened to on various audio streaming platforms, including the above link (Spotify).

Tabemono Radio is currently looking for supporters to help support our activities! Please support our activities to help people learn about food in an interesting way here .

[This month's Sustainable Food Museum]

The Sustainable Food Museum in Nishi-Shinbashi is a hub that exhibits and introduces new ideas and services from 100 carefully selected companies related to new sustainable ingredients, including food tech startups.

September's limited-time menu is a collaboration with two companies! Click here for details

[EVENT] Sustainable Food Showcase vol.9 [Tasting the Earth: How to create a brand that communicates the global environment and deliciousness, and is a "choice" brand?]
The 9th Sustainable Food Showcase will feature three amazing companies: Green Ace Co., Ltd. and Da Latee!

Shinnosuke Nakamura from Green Ace Co., Ltd. and Junya Oshima from Da Latee will also be appearing at the pop-up talk session on Friday, September 19th.

Don't miss this exciting discussion!

*Please note that speakers are subject to change.

Learn more

[BOOK] World Cooking Travelogue (Yuka Yamaguchi)

There are people in the world who don't think about what to cook for dinner

The author, a home cook, receives voices from people struggling with cooking at home, such as "planning a menu is a pain," "I get bored of always making the same dishes," and "I'm at a loss when it comes to what to do at the supermarket." Is this only the case in Japan? What is the situation like for home cooking around the world? The author, curious about this, hopped on a plane.

In 2024, she visited 38 households across 12 countries around the world. Two carefully selected households from each country will be featured, introducing a total of 24 households' cooking habits along with 12 home-cooking recipes. What is the "meaning of cooking for yourself" for people living in the same era? (From the publisher's websiteLearn more

See you in the next Foodtech EYES!

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