David Lim is the Senior Vice President of Commercial at Constellar, where he oversees sales, partnerships and customer engagement, as well as events and exhibitions. Constellar, a leading event organizer, is behind AFTEA (Agri-Food Technology Expo Asia), one of Asia’s premier events for the agri-food tech industry. David has had an extensive career spanning organizations like GP Strategies Corporation and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In this interview, David discusses the evolution of AFTEA’s vision, how the 2025 theme of “Shaping Sustainable and Nutritious Food Systems” is reflected in the event’s programming, the exciting additions such as the Cell Ag Pavilion, and how AFTEA is bridging policy gaps in Asia’s regulatory landscape.
How has the vision for AFTEA evolved over the past three editions, and what are the main goals this year?
Our objective when we started AFTEA was to establish a platform where the agri-food ecosystem and agri-food technology in Asia could truly come together to collaborate, learn, and develop. It has grown into something more over time, focusing even more on scalable, scientifically supported, and commercially feasible solutions. We hope that serious discussions will result in practical collaborations at AFTEA 2025, showcasing Asia’s leadership in driving resilient food systems of the future.
“Shaping Sustainable and Nutritious Food Systems” is the 2025 theme. Can you elaborate on how this is reflected in this year’s programming and exhibitor curation?
We’ve placed a lot of emphasis on businesses that are pushing the limits of food innovation. This includes innovators in cellular agriculture, which covers precision fermentation and cultivated meat, alternative proteins, and controlled environment agriculture, which is essential for climate-resilient production.
Additionally, we are thrilled to launch a new Superfoods section that will highlight nutrient-dense ingredients and produce. Whether it’s biotechnology, next-generation farming, or heritage crops adapted for contemporary diets, our objective is to highlight innovations that are both environmentally friendly, scalable, and high in nutrition. Complementing this is our new Pet Nutrition Zone, which will spotlight cutting-edge solutions in sustainable and functional pet nutrition—another fast-growing frontier shaping the future of food!
And of course, AFTEA 2025 will see the return of the Agri-Food Tech World Championship. This is a platform for ventures that are evaluated not only on innovation but also on practical impact and commercial readiness. We think that companies like these have the power to significantly influence how food is produced in the future.
We saw that you added a Cell Ag Pavilion—how exciting! What kind of innovations and companies can visitors expect to find there?
Yes, we’re really excited about the new Cell Ag Pavilion, developed in partnership with the APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture. It’s a dedicated showcase focused on the full spectrum of cellular agriculture—cultivated meat and seafood, precision and biomass fermentation, and enabling technologies like cell media and scaffolds.
Visitors can expect to meet a mix of regional and global innovators working on everything from R&D breakthroughs to scalable production.
Do you think regulatory pathways for cultivated and fermented foods in Asia are progressing faster than in Europe? How can AFTEA help bridge policy conversations?
Asia is making significant strides in this field. Singapore, for instance, has approved 16 insect species for human consumption. Other markets like South Korea and China are also advancing with dedicated funding and policy initiatives. But the reality is, it’s uneven. That’s where AFTEA can help bridge the gaps. We’re not just a trade show—we bring together regulators, scientists, and industry and provide these stakeholders a platform to discuss actionable strategies, share knowledge, and foster cross-border partnerships and collaboration.
How do you see yourself as an event leader connecting exhibitors with visitors, partners, investors, and policymakers? Can you share any success stories from past editions?
Our work is centred on connection. To ensure that the right people attend the event and get to know our exhibitors, we host buyer programmes, pitch sessions, guided onsite and offsite tours, and networking events.
Held across three days of AFTEA was the inaugural Agri-Food Tech World Championship which brought together 63 promising start-ups across agri-tech, food sustainability, health and wellness, and deep-tech. Start-ups walked away with more than just exposure—it was a catalyst for partnership, discovery, and community. That energy and momentum are something we’re carrying forward into 2025 with the second edition of the competition.
Another key highlight from last year was the presentation at the AFTEA Sandbox on Japan’s ecosystem for cultivated foods by Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, President of the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA). Her talk examined cross-sector cooperation, regulatory advancements, and effective market entry tactics, generating insightful discussion among attendees about how to responsibly accelerate innovation throughout Asia.
On the exhibition front, Numerous exhibitors have reported that they have drawn interest from farmers and organisations seeking to work together from various locations. We want to continue creating these kinds of ripple effects.
With rising concerns about climate resilience and food sovereignty, how is the event supporting companies that truly move the needle on sustainability?
We’re proud to work with ecosystem builders like Impact Circle, Innovate 360, and a range of international government and industry partners to bring together founders who are genuinely making a difference in food sustainability, and our Agri-Food Tech World Championship is a key platform for this. In addition, our Startup Pavilions showcase early-stage businesses that are working on projects ranging from regenerative agriculture inputs to affordable alternative proteins to upcycling food waste.
These platforms are made to help the most ambitious, forward-thinking businesses receive the publicity and assistance they require to expand.
And how do you integrate sustainability into your event concept?
AFTEA is hosted at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre which is triple Platinum certified for green building standards and powered by 100% renewable electricity. It also features over 400 water-saving technologies, serves locally and regionally sourced produce, and integrates circular products across its event operations—from setup to post-event waste diversion.
At AFTEA itself, we run a fully online registration system, encourage attendees to recycle their lanyards and badges, and provide water refill stations throughout the exhibition hall to minimise the use of plastic bottles. Our Sandbox Stage also showcases content that addresses sustainability head-on—from responsible production to resilient food systems.
What would you say are the three key takeaways for professionals attending AFTEA 2025?
First, it’s where you discover what’s next for the future of food—whether that’s breakthroughs in cellular agriculture, superfoods, or sustainable farming systems.
Second, it’s where agtech and foodtech changemakers get spotted—the rising start-ups who will be shaping the industry.
And third, it’s your one-stop platform for building meaningful connections. Whether through curated business matching, networking events, booth-side chats, or informal meetings, AFTEA is designed to help ideas and partnerships take root.
Finally, how do you see AFTEA’s role evolving in the next five years—especially in positioning Asia as a leader in the future of food?
AFTEA will continue to be Asia’s launchpad for transformative ag and food technologies—bridging innovation, investment, and implementation. We see ourselves expanding into year-round programming, nurturing start-up ecosystems, and convening global leaders here in Asia.
In five years, we want AFTEA to be the go-to platform not just a global showcase of what’s possible, but for unlocking what’s scalable, investable, and truly impactful—led by and for Asia.
