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LEARNING JOURNEY TO PENANG, MY
BIOMANUFACTURING WORKSHOP 2025
APAC-SCA (Student Chapter), with the support from the Biomedical Research Council at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and in collaboration with Cell AgriTech and Temasek Polytechnic, and Republic Polytechnic, brought 28 students across Singapore's Higher Learning Institute on an exclusive biomanufacturing learning journey to Penang, Malaysia, from 8th-10th September 2025, in conjunction with the conference: "Seizing the Biomanufacturing Opportunity: Demonstrating Scale-Up in Cultivated Foods."
This event offered students the rare opportunity to experience the excitement of creating cultivated foods with exclusive guided tours around Cell AgriTech’s Centre of Excellence, the first and only biomanufacturing site in Malaysia dedicated to cultivated foods! Read more at the Press Release.
Program Overview
Experience for yourself with hands-on exposure to real-world bioprocesses through exclusive guided tours, observe a live biomass harvest, and take part in an alternative protein cooking session, offering a rare glimpse into the future of food production!
8 September 2025 (Monday): Arrival
Afternoon
Arrival in Penang, Malaysia & check-in at Wembley Hotel
Evening
Group dinner & head back to the hotel for rest after.
9 September 2025 (Tuesday): Full day conference & workshops
Morning
Breakfast at Wembley Hotel & Departure for Cell AgriTech Centre of Excellence
Registration + Breakfast Networking
08.30AM - 09.00AM
Event Ticket Confirmation
Please collect your name tag. Breakfast networking is available in the dining hall.
Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Address
09.00AM - 10.00AM
Guest-of-Honour:
YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow,
Chief Minister of Penang
Jason Ng, Manufacturing Vice President, Cell AgriTech (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.00AM - 10.10AM
"Current State and Opportunities in the Cell Ag Industry"
The cellular agriculture (cell ag) industry stands at a pivotal juncture, transitioning from scientific novelty to commercial reality. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, highlighting recent technological breakthroughs, regulatory milestones, and market readiness across key regions. From cultivated meat to precision fermentation and hybrid products, we will explore how innovation is shaping product development, cost reduction, and scalability.
Peter Yu, Program Director, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.10AM - 10.20AM
"Policy Pathways for Cultivated Meat: Bridging Innovation and Regulation"
Since Dr. Mark Post debuted the world’s first cultivated beef burger in 2013, the field has seen rapid progress—from serum-free media and cell line development to hybrid products combining cultivated fat with plant-based proteins. These breakthroughs signal immense commercial potential, but scaling remains a regulatory and infrastructural challenge. What policy levers can unlock this next phase? This talk explores the key innovations shaping the future of cultivated meat and outlines the regulatory frameworks needed to move from lab bench to dinner plate.
Thiruchelvi Rajagobal Reddy, Policy Associate, Good Food Institute Asia Pacific (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.20AM - 10.50AM
"Cultivated Meat Production Process & Equipment Demonstration"
Growing meat and fish from cells isn’t rocket science and it’s certainly not something to fear. It’s a natural process, just like how animals grow, by feeding cells with nutrients in the right environment in tank. The industry seems costly because it borrows from bio-pharma, but meat cells are simply animal cells. We don’t need millions, pharma standards, or cleanrooms. In this session, I’ll walk you through the full process, from cell growth to harvest to food assembly, and showcase our affordable, plug-and-play equipment that’s simple, efficient, and scalable.
Jason Ng, Manufacturing Vice President, Cell AgriTech
(Biography)
Panel Discussion Session
10.50AM - 11.20AM
"Opportunities in Cultivated Meat & Seafood"
Moderator: Peter Yu, Program Director, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
(Biography)
Panellist: Carrie Chan, Co-Founder & CEO, Avant (Biography)
Panellist: Dr. Jay Jee, Co-Founder & CTO, DaNAgreen
(Biography)
Panellist: Karsten Schellhaus, Principal & Owner, Schellhas Food Technology Consultants (Biography)
Break Time
11.20AM - 11.30AM
A 10 minutes break time has been allocated for all participants, please return to the conference hall by 11.30AM
Interactive Product Showcase
11.30AM - 12.00PM
Follow along for a 30 minutes exhibition tour will provide an in-depth presentations by the exhibition partners involved in equipments, optimising biomass production, culture medium, growth factors.
Guided Facility and Laboratory Tour with Live Demonstrations
12.00PM - 12.30PM
In this guided facility and laboratory tour, Cell AgriTech will showcase the full production process of cultivated meat—from cell proliferation to harvesting—spanning both lab-scale and manufacturing-scale operations. The tour includes a unique demonstration of cell cultivation, biomass harvesting, and a live cooking session to complete the experience.
Networking Lunch
12.30PM - 1.30PM
An hour long networking lunch session has been prepared for all participants, students should head over to the workshop room by 1.30PM
Introduction & Safety Briefing
1.30PM - 1.40PM
There will be an introduction of the co-organisers, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture and Cell AgriTech.
Cultivated Food Posters Creation
1.40PM - 2.20PM
Group breakout session to summarise key learnings from morning conference, showcase, and laboratory tour. Key findings to be developed and shown to all participants of the conference.
Workshop Session
2.20PM - 3.20PM
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Lecture: Overview of Cultivated Meat Process
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Lecture: Cell Culture Media, Serum Issues and its Alternative
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Lecture: Media Optimisation
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Lecture & Demonstration: Cell Cryopreservation
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Lecture & Demonstration: Cell Thawing
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Lecture & Demonstration: Cell Passaging: Scale up from Shake Flask, to Spinner Flask, and to Bioreactor
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Lecture & Demonstration: Bioprocess, Spinner Flask, and Bioreactor
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Lecture & Demonstration: Harvesting
Cell AgriTech Trainer: Rouwen
Cell AgriTech Assistants: Ai Ai, Jia Lin, Exeter, Earon, & Sharlene
High Tea + Networking
3.20PM - 3.40PM
A 20 minutes networking high tea session has been prepared for all participants, take the time to interact with industry and academic stakeholders.
Cooking Workshop Session
"Cooking with Alternative Protein Ingredients"
3.40PM - 4.40PM
End of Conference + Workshop
Free & Easy Time. Please arrange your dinner for the evening and return to the Wembley Hotel to rest. Make sure you are contactable at all times.
10 September 2025 (Wednesday): Cultural Experience & Return to SG
Morning
Breakfast (Hotel)
Cultural discovery
Penang sightseeing destinations
-
Street Art Exploration
-
Chew Jetty Visit
-
Batu Ferringhi Beach
-
Craft Batik Experience
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Scenic Penang Hill Adventure
Afternoon
Airport check-in and return to Singapore
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