Every year, large quantities of okara, the soybean pulp generated during soy milk and tofu production, are discarded or used as low-value animal feed despite containing up to 30% protein residue. This underutilisation represents a significant loss of potential nutritional and commercial value.
RP School of Applied Science has licensed the tech to a startup to advance sustainable protein innovation through the study of Okara Peptide. Leveraging RP’s innovative okara solubilisation technology, the project focused on extracting and purifying high-quality proteins and bioactive peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for food, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical applications.
The innovation lies in the circular economy approach, upcycling high-volume food wastes into useful biomaterials, combined with advanced bioprocessing methods that maximise protein recovery efficiency. This not only supports Singapore’s zero-waste and food security goals but also promotes new research capabilities and student learning opportunities within RP.
Through test-bedding and industrial scaling supported by our industry partner, this partnership exemplifies how science-driven innovation and industry collaboration can create sustainable solutions that bridge environmental responsibility with commercial potential.
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