Vegekin Original, a vegetable protein product from the BEAN EARTH brand | Photo courtesy of Zeta Food Lab
Zeta Food Lab Co., Ltd. (CEO Han Jeong-woo) will be holding the ‘7 Agri & Food Tech Start-up Rising Expo’ held at COEX Hall A in Seoul for three days from July 26th (Wed) to 28th (Fri). 3)’.
Since its establishment in 2021, Zeta Food Lab has been focusing on creating new food culture trends by continuing research and development with the goal of localizing vegetable protein. Unlike existing vegetable materials, which were developed and supplied mainly by Western countries, Zeta Food Lab is building proteins by discovering materials familiar to Asians, including Koreans, and combining them with advanced technology. As such, the company explains that it is making efforts to provide healthy and sustainable food culture to consumers.
At this exhibition, Zeta Food Lab introduces its own vegetable protein ‘Vegekin Original’. It is the first product of Zeta Food Lab’s own brand ‘BEAN EARTH’ and will be unveiled for the first time through AFRO 2023.
Vegekin is a chunk-type product that uses only plant-based ingredients, and has its unique chewy texture as a differentiated advantage and feature. This is due to the fact that Vegekin is a vegetable protein based on wet TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) to which the HTHP (High Temperature and High Pressure) method is applied.
Since physical properties are formed in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, the rate of moisture escape during processing is lowered, and a texture similar to existing meat food appears due to the relatively high moisture content. Zeta Food Lab explained that the technology used for manufacturing was designed in collaboration with Seoul National University’s Food Science and Technology Lab and Soimaru Co., Ltd.
An official from Zeta Food Lab said, “Vinus wants to create food that harmonizes nature and technology while maintaining quality and taste by using state-of-the-art food science and technology.” It is a product that reflects our best efforts for the future, and will be the first step in change that will bring a better future to humans and the earth.”
“We plan to continue expanding the Veggie lineup in the future. Rather than simply diversifying recipes and sauces, we will build a lineup with products with various ingredients so that consumers can enjoy a variety of textures.” We plan to release ‘Chunk’ and ‘Vegekin Cube’, a hexagonal product that can be used as cooking ingredients such as sliced tofu.”
Meanwhile, at AFRO 2023, the largest Agtech & Foodtech event in Korea, domestic startups with global growth potential in Agtech, Foodtech, and Green Bio will exhibit products and services to solve various problems in the agriculture and food industries, Various programs such as conferences discussing the present and future of Agtech and Foodtech and investment briefings (IR competitions) are held. This exhibition is hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and supervised by the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency, NH Nonghyup, COEX, and the Korea Food Tech Council.