ScaleUp Bio, a pioneering CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) service provider based in Singapore, has announced a significant milestone: securing a food manufacturing licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for its Commercial Pilot Production facility in Tuas, western Singapore. This achievement marks ScaleUp Bio as one of the few CDMOs globally approved as a food manufacturing facility, focusing on submerged microbial and precision fermentation services at a scale of up to 10,000 liters.
Meeting Stringent Food Production Standards
The SFA licence signifies that ScaleUp Bio has met Singapore’s rigorous food production standards, which include requirements for infrastructure, facility standards, food safety, hygiene, and operational excellence. This accomplishment reflects ScaleUp Bio's commitment to maintaining the highest global standards of food safety and quality in food production.
Francisco Codoñer, CEO of ScaleUp Bio, expressed gratitude towards SFA for this milestone, stating, “We are deeply grateful to SFA for this milestone, and we are ready to go. If you are a global food tech start-up in need of pilot-scale manufacturing, we invite you to engage with us. ScaleUp Bio’s value proposition offers anyone with the next best concept in food to bring that idea to reality and to pilot stage commercial production in Singapore, backed by a blue-chip corporate ecosystem of support. With this milestone, we are moving one step forward towards enabling the next food revolution.”
Committed to Food Safety and Quality
Achieving the SFA food manufacturing licence is the culmination of a year and a half’s effort to build Singapore’s pioneering, dedicated food-grade pilot-stage food production facility. Spanning approximately 2,266 square meters, the Commercial Pilot Production facility in Tuas provides food innovators with access to up to 10,000 liters of fermentation and associated downstream processing capacity. This new facility complements ScaleUp Bio’s existing Fermentation Joint Lab, designed and operated in collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation.
The Fermentation Joint Lab, located in Nurasa’s Food Tech Innovation Centre (FTIC), offers food innovators up to 100 liters of fermentation capacity in a dedicated food-grade scientific research laboratory. Guo Xiu Ling, CEO of Nurasa, emphasized the importance of this milestone: “At Nurasa, we are committed to pioneering a new world of sustainably produced nutrition solutions for our planet. ScaleUp Bio’s milestone from SFA is a pivotal step forward in this journey. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team and eagerly anticipate our ongoing partnership as Nurasa continues to nurture and empower global food tech start-ups with a robust community and support ecosystem.”
Supporting Global Food Tech Start-Ups
Food tech start-ups globally will benefit from the expertise and innovation offered by ADM, ScaleUp Bio’s other corporate parent. Gary McGuigan, President, Asia-Pacific, ADM, highlighted the significance of this joint venture: “ScaleUp Bio stands as a significant joint venture with Temasek’s Nurasa, demonstrating our commitment to meeting Asia’s unique food needs. Congratulations to the team on receiving the SFA’s food manufacturing licence, and we look forward to continuing our support for ScaleUp Bio and aspiring food-tech companies as we collectively pave the way for a more sustainable food system.”
A Comprehensive Support Ecosystem
ScaleUp Bio’s two facilities represent a pioneering initiative for both Singapore and the global food tech community. The company offers a comprehensive support ecosystem that includes R&D to pilot scale, fermentation expertise, and guidance from parent and sister companies, research institutions, and industry partners. Additionally, ScaleUp Bio taps into its parent companies’ extensive corporate network, ADM and Nurasa, to provide funding opportunities for start-ups.
Francisco Codoñer concluded, “Need food-grade facilities? We’ve got you covered. From R&D to pilot scale, our fermentation expertise ensures excellence. Transitioning from bench to market? Our collaborative ecosystem offers guidance. Seeking funding? We tap into our parent companies’ extensive corporate network, ADM and Nurasa. Reach out to us now, and let’s help you ScaleUp for success in Asia’s lucrative markets.”
With this new facility and the SFA food manufacturing licence, ScaleUp Bio is well-positioned to drive the next wave of food innovation, supporting global food tech start-ups in their journey towards sustainable and efficient food production.
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