In 2013, AVA successfully converted okara, a soy by-product, into mock meat floss. We shared this technology with industry stakeholders during a seminar, and showcased various okara products during the Urban Sustainability R&D Congress 2013.
Following this, AVA assisted a local company – Cecilia Minced & Dried Pork Food Trading – in adopting this technology in its factory. The company has begun manufacturing and selling small quantities of okara floss since November 2013.
Cecilia Minced and Dried Pork Trading has successfully adopted the okara conversion technology to produce okara floss with seaweed.
Mr Koh Hock Bin, Managing Director of Cecilia Minced and Dried Pork Trading said: “When AVA introduced the okara conversion technology during the seminar, I became very interested, as that was the first successful attempt in Singapore. We are currently looking for suitable machinery to mass produce this product for foodservice users. At the same time, we are researching on ways to add okara to flour and make confectionery.”
At least 30 metric tonnes of okara, a by-product formed during the manufacturing of soy milk and tofu, is discarded daily. This food waste is rich in protein and carbohydrates, which makes it ideal for recycling into nutritious food products. AVA and its collaborators have also successfully converted okara into other mock meat products and animal feed.
The development of this technology is part of AVA’s efforts in ensuring Singapore’s food supply chain is integrated, cost-effective, and sustainable. These include collaborating with renowned research institutions and key industry stakeholders to develop innovative products, optimise productivity, improve product quality and shelf life, as well as minimise food wastage.