2025 has been a defining year for My PlantCo, a year marked by innovation, collaboration and purpose-driven growth.
Our mission has always been to redefine everyday staples with nutritious, sustainable and culturally inspired plant-based alternatives. This year, we took major steps toward that goal through our subsidiary, Real Oats and continued our efforts through our cook at home movement in Turban Chopsticks.
Major Research Collaboration and Funding
We were honoured to initiate a $5.6 million research collaboration project with the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) at the University of Queensland (UQ) – FaBA’s largest research project to date. Together, we’re accelerating the development and commercialisation of high-protein, high-fibre oat products built on innovative Australian research and technology.
Strategic Manufacturing Partnership
To turn innovation into impact, we formalised an exclusive partnership with SATAKE Corporation, global leaders in grain processing technology. This collaboration provides the expertise, customised machinery and process optimisation needed to scale Real Oats from pilot to commercialisation, a step our Founder, Mei Yong, described as “significantly de-risking our expansion.”
Recognition and Growth
We were humbled to be named FaBA Food and Beverage Startup of the Year at The University of Queensland’s 2025 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards. Our established brand Turban Chopsticks also continued to shine, earning multiple national food awards, including 10 medals at the Melbourne Royal® Australian Food Awards and 8 medals at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards.
Celebrating our People
Beyond commercial milestones, 2025 has been about people and purpose.
From welcoming Mido Chishty as My PlantCo’s Chief Marketing Officer, to sponsoring the Curtin Molecular and Life Sciences Awards in support of the next generation of food scientists, to celebrating cultural events such as Diwali with the WA Government, to developing our team members through FHA Singapore and ensuring an inclusive workshop in collaboration with Edge Employment Solution, we believe that leadership isn’t just about vision, it’s about building spaces where people belong and can grow.
Looking Forward
As we move into 2026, our focus remains on scaling sustainable food innovation from Australia to the world:
- Expanding and rebranding Turban Chopsticks, empowering every home cook with flavourful, authentic shortcuts.
- Establishing a dedicated oat processing site to bring Real Oats Rice, Noodles and Pasta to global markets.
- Launching Kado, an avocado-based innovation born from leading Australian research collaborations.
- Expanding brand presence to Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
At My PlantCo, collaboration fuels our growth.
Every step forward reflects the shared effort of our research, manufacturing and community partners. Together, we’re building a more sustainable, flavourful future: one grain, one meal and one connection at a time.
