Students from Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Netherlands’ Wageningen University have won the top prize of AUD$3,000 (US$1,900) at the ProVeg Food Innovation Challenge 2024 for their self-heating plant-based “Hanwoo beef” rice box. 

CJ Foods, a Korea-based food company, set the task of creating Hanwoo beef, a rare and expensive beef cut. The food box features “beef” made from textured pea protein as well as rice and vegetables. 

The food box contains a built-in heating element that functions after pulling a string. It is tamper-proof and completely sealed for maximum heating potential. The first-place prize is a convenient size for on-the-go use and comes with a reusable wooden spoon.

Shirley Lu, managing director at ProVeg Asia, says: “This year’s Food Innovation Challenge has showcased the remarkable creativity and determination of students from across the globe.”

“Using diverse local ingredients like mung beans, microalgae and fungi, participants have demonstrated that collaboration knows no boundaries.” 

“By fostering partnerships between students from regions such as China and Australia, Vietnam and Germany, and beyond, we are accelerating the development of sustainable and inclusive food systems,” Lu adds.