The partnership comes as demand for functional beverages is projected to reach US$758.99 billion by 2034, driven by consumers who want products that support their physical health.
 
In Malaysia, the plant-based beverage market is also poised for strong growth, projected to increase from US$18.5 billion in 2025 to US$39.7 billion by 2031.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said the partnership marks a significant step forward in transforming Malaysia’s food and beverage landscape towards a more sustainable, resilient and bio-based innovation-driven ecosystem.
“I hope that the innovation centre will serve as a catalyst for more local innovations, the development of internationally competitive bio-based products, and further strengthen Malaysia’  position as a leading bioeconomy hub in the region,” he added.

The parties said the approach reduces development timelines and enables emerging or established F&B players to innovate at scale without the need for heavy investment upfront or long import lead times.

“When we built The Mylky Way, the goal was never to create a facility for Pure Mylk, it was to build an infrastructure that the entire Malaysian plant-based industry could grow from,” said Pure Mylk founder and chief executive officer Marcus Khoo.

Tetra Pak managing director for Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia Marcelo Perazzo said the partnership sets a benchmark for local plant-based and functional beverage industry, enabling local brands to innovate, co-pack and reach regional markets