Blended proteins could reshape Asia’s food security, with Thailand in the middle of the taste test
A sweeping new line of blended proteins is moving from lab benches into pantries across Asia, and its promise could ripple through Thailand’s food security, farming, and everyday meals. In a major regional effort led by NECTAR, a consortium studying the “Future of the Industry: Balanced Proteins APAC” is testing how combinations of plant, fungal, and animal-adjacent ingredients can deliver meat-like satisfaction while easing pressure on land, water, and farming systems. The Singapore-focused phase in particular shows taste tests where blends sometimes outshine traditional animal meat in consumer panels. If these early signals hold, Thai households—facing rising protein prices and shifting dietary expectations—could see more versatile, culturally familiar options at markets and in eateries within a few years.