Ubiquity specialises in the germination and sprouting of legumes, grains, seeds, nuts, and vegetables in its proprietary climate-controlled chamber.
The system is a 10-metre-long, two-metre-wide unit with four internal chambers, capable of germinating up to 1,500 kilograms per cycle.
The process is highly efficient, using minimal water and energy to significantly reduce germination time.
Depending on the crop, germination cycles range from as little as 12 hours for mung beans, 24 hours for soy and chickpeas, 36 to 48 hours for black soy and red soy, and around 48 hours for barley.
Speaking to AgTechNavigator, CEO Horng Ji Lai explained that the company focuses on sprouts as the germination process activates their metabolism to raise their nutritional profiles.
For example, after germination, chickpeas have a spike in beneficial compounds such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and omega-3 fatty acid.
Collaborators wanted
Ubiquity is seeking out partners to collaborate on new innovative food products, which is its main business model.
Today, 90 per cent of the business is focused on joint ventures and licensing agreements while equipment sales play a smaller role.
“Originally, we were selling the technology, but we changed the business model because we saw that the future is about food safety, food resilience, and better nutrition,” said Lai.
Through these partnerships, the company provides the technology, technical expertise and product development support, while sharing in the resulting commercial outcomes.
This model allows close involvement in developing finished products rather than simply supplying machinery, said Lai.
Using its technology, the company has helped to develop plant-based food such as milk, sausages, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream.
Lai told us that it has been working with different partners across the globe to develop various plant-based milk items derived from different crops.
In addition to plant-based human food, the company also sees strong opportunities in pet care and animal feed, positioning the technology as broadly applicable across the food system.
According to Lai, the company has partnerships or active discussions underway in Taiwan, China, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Middle East.
Ubiquity was at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Dubai in December to seek out more opportunities in the region.
Lai believes the firm’s technology is a good fit for countries like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, which rely heavily on exports for fresh produce.
He added that both government bodies and private companies in the region have a vested interest in indoor farming systems.
Ubiquity’s technology also a fraction of the water required by conventional farming – around two tonnes of water for one ton of produce – making the technology particularly attractive for Middle Eastern markets that face water scarcity.
The company will continue to explore opportunities in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and the US.
As a relatively new company and concept, many potential customers are not yet familiar with the nutritional changes that occur through germination, said Lai.
With education and awareness as its primary challenge, the company aims to build up Taiwan as its “showcase market” in the near term.
Lai hopes that by establishing a strong foundation and reputation in its home base, it can attract more international partners to take its technology and expertise to more markets.
