Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) reaffirms its role as a global leader in food innovation through its fourth consecutive partnership with ProVeg. CPF proudly supports the Plant-Based Protein innovation competition at the ProVeg Food Innovation Challenge 2024, which is designed to nurture emerging talent through knowledge and skills exchange among university students from the Asia-Pacific region and leading academic institutions worldwide.

CP Foods experts served as advisors, offering guidance on prototype product development to competing teams from both Thai and international universities. This year, two CP Foods-mentored teams distinguished themselves by securing the first and second runner-up awards from over 400 entries submitted by top universities around the globe.

The project “Bao Bei Duck”—a vegan reinterpretation of Beijing duck featuring a durian filling—earned the first runner-up award. Designed to meet the growing demand for vegan-friendly ready-to-eat options, this innovative product is well-suited for retail in convenience stores. The project was a collaborative effort by students from the University of Paris-Saclay (France), the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the University of Newcastle (Australia).

The “Squidward Tentacles” project, developed by students from the School of Food Science at Jiangnan University, showcased cutting-edge technology by combining 3D printing with microalgae protein and other plant-based ingredients. This approach successfully mimicked the texture of real seafood, providing a nutritious alternative for consumers seeking plant-based options. This project earned the second runner-up award.

Over 1,350 students from 151 universities in 20 countries participated in this year’s ProVeg Food Innovation Challenge. The competition fostered a rich exchange of technology and innovative ideas, including the creative adaptation of local ingredients such as transforming the traditional Chinese favorite, Beijing duck, into a novel plant-based product that caters to contemporary lifestyles with unique flavors and nutritional benefits.