[Edaily Reporter Shin Su-jeong] Dongwon F&B received the top award at World Food Tech Conpex 2026 in recognition of its achievements in marine protein technology and the creation of high-value-added products from tuna by-products.

#Dongwon F&B announced on the 9th that it received the Grand Prize at the World Food Tech Conpex 2026 awards ceremony held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

World Food Tech Conpex is an event hosted by the World Food Tech Council. It serves as a forum for academics, government officials, and corporate representatives in the food tech sector to discuss technological changes in the food industry and the future direction of food.

Dongwon F&B was recognized for its technological capabilities and scalability in the blue protein sector. Blue protein refers to marine protein. It is gaining attention as a future food resource capable of meeting the growing global demand for protein due to its low carbon emissions and high feed efficiency.

Since launching Dongwon Tuna, Korea’s first canned tuna product, in 1982, Dongwon F&B has expanded its portfolio of marine protein products. Over the past 40 years, Dongwon Tuna has sold more than 8 billion cans cumulatively. Currently, over 200 million cans are consumed annually both domestically and internationally.

The company has recently moved beyond its canned tuna-centric product business to develop materials using tuna by-products. The cooking liquid and red meat are utilized as tuna extract and pet food ingredients. The company is also pursuing plans to develop high-value-added materials such as functional peptides, fish bone calcium, and collagen from parts like the head, bones, and heart.

Tuna is considered a representative source of marine protein. According to Dongwon F&B, the average protein content per 100g of tuna is 22g, which is higher than that of beef (19g) and chicken (17g).

A Dongwon F&B official stated, “This award is a meaningful achievement that proves our long-established expertise in marine protein technology is recognized in the global market,” adding, “We will continue to advance sustainable food science and technology and make proactive R&D investments to become a leading global food tech company that contributes to human health.”