Japan materials group Shin-Etsu bites into plant-based meat

TOKYO -- Japan's Shin-Etsu Chemical, one of the world's top suppliers of plastics and chipmaking materials, has expanded into the supply chain for the growing market for plant-derived meat, Nikkei has learned.

The Tokyo-listed blue chip is prepared to produce a binding agent for artificial meat in Germany, eyeing U.S. and European makers like Beyond Meat and Nestle.