Society

National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre

© NAPIC

NAPIC Becomes Latest Alternative Protein Innovation Centre to Open in the UK

The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) has been formally launched at the UK’s University of Leeds. It comes after the centre received £15 million in investment from two government funding bodies — the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK. NAPIC is hosted by the University of Leeds and co-led with the James Hutton Institute, the University of Sheffield, and Imperial College London. Its aim is to “transform the alternative protein landscape and contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet”. The launch event was attended by 250 delegates spanning academia, industry, investors, funders, and policymakers. It featured a keynote address by Professor Tim Benton of Chatham House, who discussed the critical role of alternative proteins in creating a sustainable …

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Meatable, a Dutch producer of cell-based pork meat, has become the first company to hold an officially approved cultivated meat tasting in the European Union and the first in the Netherlands.

Image courtesy of Meatable © Bart Maat

Is Cultivated Meat Vegan? The Vegan Society Says “Not Enough to Support it”

The Vegan Society acknowledges that cultivated meat has potential benefits, such as reducing animal slaughter and suffering, environmental improvements (less land and water usage, reduced greenhouse emissions), reduced zoonotic disease risks, and decreased antibiotic resistance. However, the organization states, “Cultivated meat is not vegan. Furthermore, it may never be considered vegan.” In a newly released research briefing, The Vegan Society discusses the intersections between veganism, ethics, and cultivated meat, highlighting the current limitations in alignment with vegan principles and ethical considerations. The paper also provides readers with essential information on the technology that has moved from a “fringe idea found only in science fiction” to being approved in Singapore, the US, and Israel, served in restaurants in Hong Kong, and approved as a pet food …

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Nhà hàng chay Veggie Saigon, Vietnam HappyCow

Nhà hàng chay Veggie Saigon, Vietnam ©HappyCow

Mexico City & Ho Chi Minh City Appear on HappyCow’s World Top Ten Vegan-Friendly Cities for 1st Time

Vegan food discovery platform HappyCow has published its annual report outlining the world’s most vegan-friendly cities. Notably, while most cities on the list witnessed modest growth in fully vegan listings in 2024, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam saw a dramatic rise throughout the year. Los Angeles, Portland, Berlin, and Amsterdam all saw a decline in the number of vegan listings, but the accessibility of vegan products and their strong vegan communities were enough to keep them on the list. Hamburg, Paris, and Bangkok, which appeared in the top ten for 2024, have been pushed further down the rankings this time around. Top 10 London, UK, and Berlin, Germany top the list for the fourth consecutive year. These cities have 3600+ and 1700+ listings respectively …

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Dr. Praegers chickenless nuggets

© Dr. Praegers

Chickenless Nuggets Are Unexpected Success in American Schools, Cafeterias Struggle to Keep Up with Soaring Demand

Durham Public Schools (DPS) in North Carolina have observed an unexpected surge in student demand for plant-based chicken nuggets introduced to its lunch program earlier this year. The soy protein-based nuggets, supplied by Dr. Praeger’s, have become a monthly staple, with approximately 1,500 servings—equivalent to 6,000 individual nuggets—distributed across the district. The popularity of these vegan nuggets was spotlighted during a recent joint meeting of the Durham County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education, published by 9th Street Journal. James Keaten, DPS’s director of school nutrition, shared that demand has outpaced initial expectations. “We never in our wildest dreams could imagine the number of kids that were going to take those vegan nuggets,” said Keaten, adding that maintaining adequate stock has been challenging …

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Accor Group, the largest in Europe and the sixth worldwide emphasized the importance of plant-based eating to reduce the group's carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

© Accor Group

Europe’s Largest Hospitality Group, Accor Group, Expands Plant-Based Menus Across 5,500 Hotels, Aims for 50% Vegan by 2030

French multinational hospitality company Accor Group, the largest in Europe and the sixth worldwide, has highlighted the importance of plant-based eating to reduce the group’s carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of its sustainability strategy, the group plans to offer plant-based options at all its hotels in the coming years, and it additionally targets having 50% of menu items plant-based by 2030, in line with the global “Good Food Feels Great” policy. The news was shared by Antonietta Varlese, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Communication Accor Americas, who released a press release on social media, revealing that the company already offers plant-based options in 72% of its hotels in the Americas. “On World Vegan Day, celebrated today, we reflect on …

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Christspiracy

© Christspiracy

Controversial Doc Christspiracy Finally Debuts Globally, Examining Compassion & Animal Rights in Religion

A new documentary exploring the relationship between religious teachings and animal welfare, Christspiracy: The Spirituality Secret, makes its worldwide debut today. Directed by Kip Andersen, known for previous documentaries such as Cowspiracy and Seaspiracy, and co-directed by Kameron Waters, Christspiracy is now available for streaming on Christspiracy.com.  Produced over seven years, Christspiracy investigates a central question: “How would Jesus kill an animal?” The documentary presents insights from interviews with religious leaders, scholars, and animal rights activists across various cultural and religious contexts. Filming locations included Rome, Jerusalem, and the United States, among others, where the filmmakers sought perspectives on the treatment of animals within religious traditions. The documentary’s stated aim is to reveal connections between historical religious teachings and contemporary issues in animal agriculture. Reflecting …

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microbial protein Formo cheese gratin

© Formo

World Vegan Day: Celebrating 80 Years of Veganism with a Spotlight on Plant-Based Cheese Innovations

The Vegan Society, the world’s oldest vegan charity, is celebrating its 80th anniversary today, marking World Vegan Day. The society was founded in 1944 by Donald Watson and five other non-dairy vegetarians, who sought to create a movement distinct from vegetarianism and coined the term “vegan.” Over the past 80 years, the vegan movement has grown significantly, with veganism now recognized as a protected philosophical belief in the UK. Vegan options are available in supermarkets, restaurants, fashion, and cosmetics in Europe and North America, and the offer is slowly increasing in other continents. To celebrate its 80th anniversary, the charity is launching a virtual reality campaign, “The Future is Vegan.” The campaign features an AI-created avatar of co-founder Donald Watson, guiding users through a virtual world to …

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Maya Jama invests in Sproud

© Charlie Sarsfield/Sproud

TV Presenter Maya Jama Becomes Investor & Co-Owner of Plant Milk Brand Sproud

Award-winning British television presenter and entrepreneur Maya Jama has become an investor and co-owner of Swedish pea milk brand Sproud. Jama is a two-time British Vogue cover star and the face of global campaigns for Rimmel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Self-Portrait. She is known as the host of last year’s Fashion Awards, this year’s BRIT Awards, and the popular ITV series Love Island. Additionally, Jama was recognised on this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 List. Following the investment, she will act as a strategic advisor and brand ambassador to Sproud, becoming the face of the company. “I’m really excited to become a co-owner of Sproud,” said Jama. “There’s a lot to love — the products taste amazing, and the packaging is eye-catching, too, but ultimately …

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Planetary Health Diet

© Creatus - stock.adobe.com

Retailers Urged to Adopt 60/40 Protein Split to Drive Healthier, More Sustainable Diets

Three global organizations, ProVeg International, WWF, and the Green Protein Alliance, are urging retailers to set targets for a 60% plant and 40% animal protein split in their sales to support healthy, sustainable diets aligned with the Planetary Health Diet by EAT-Lancet. The Planetary Health Diet suggests that the split between plant-based and animal-based foods should be 70% plant to 30% animal when all food groups are included and 60% plant to 40% animal when just focusing on protein-source foods, including meat, eggs, fish, and legumes. The organizations highlight retailers as “pivotal” in enabling societies to transition to sustainable diets and setting industry standards for measuring and achieving protein rebalancing. They encourage retailers to track progress toward these protein split targets to promote a comprehensive shift …

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Beyond Meat launches at UK airport and train station bars

© Beyond Meat

Beyond Burger Launches at UK Airport & Train Station Bars in Partnership With SSP Group

Beyond Meat has partnered with travel restaurateur SSP Group to launch the Beyond Burger at airport and train station bars across the UK. The burger will roll out at 13 locations, including Brigg & Stow at Bristol Airport and Camden Bar at London Stansted, from October 24. It will then launch at six more bars from December. Customers will be able to order the plant-based patty in a bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, house burger sauce, and a side of chips. The Beyond Burger is high in protein at 16g per 100g, and made with ingredients that are Kosher, Halal, and vegan certified. It also has a significantly lower environmental impact than a comparable beef patty. “We strive to offer as much choice as we …

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Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA)

© Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA)

Massachusetts Backs Tufts University With $2.1M for New Cell Ag Center While Nebraska Pushes for Beef Protection

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) have awarded $2,136,711 to the Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA) to establish the Foodtech Engineering for Alternative Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) center. FEAST aims to advance cellular agriculture research at Tufts, with a specific focus on cultivated meat and other cell-based products. The center will include cutting-edge equipment and a test kitchen, providing infrastructure for prototyping and evaluating cellular agriculture products. It will also allow academic and business partners to use these facilities fee-for-service. Aligned with the manufacturing institute BioMADE, sponsored by the Department of Defense, the project is expected to create 60 new jobs in the bioindustrial manufacturing sector in Massachusetts. The funding is part of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) program, which supports hard …

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Plant Based Foods Association May Cause

© Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA)

Largest-Ever Collaboration of Plant-Based Powerhouse Brands Unites in Landmark Campaign to Drive Consumer Awareness

The Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) has partnered with advertising agency AKQA Bloom to launch the “May Cause” campaign, a landmark initiative that unites leading plant-based giants such as NotCo, Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, and many more. This represents the largest-ever cross-category collaboration of plant-based brands, all working to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet, says the PBFA. Launched during New York City’s Climate Week, the campaign represents a pivotal moment for the industry, shifting the focus from competition to collaboration in order to drive wider consumer adoption of plant-based products. CEO Rachel Dreskin enthused about the initiative, “This campaign marks a key moment for our industry. By coming together, for the very first time, as a diverse coalition of brands across 20+ plant-based …

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PETA

© PETA

PETA Warns US Meat Companies to Learn from Mistakes of Tobacco Farmers and “Get Out Now!”

PETA is urging five major US meat companies—Hormel Foods, Cargill, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, and Oscar Mayer—to shift their focus from animal-based products to vegan alternatives, following the example set by one of Italy’s oldest meat producers, Gruppo Tonazzo. Gruppo Tonazzo recently announced that it will stop selling meat entirely and concentrate solely on plant-based products. Albino Tonazzo, CEO of the company’s plant-based brand Kioene, explained that the shift is motivated by a “deep responsibility to future generations” and a commitment to environmental preservation. In letters sent to the CEOs of the US companies, PETA noted the growing consumer demand for plant-based foods and the environmental and ethical concerns associated with animal agriculture. The group explained that all five companies have already introduced vegan products …

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two people wearing "go vegan" t-shirts at Oslo vegetarfestival

Oslo vegetarfestival 2023, Photo Credit: Oslo Vegetarfestival

Help Spread the Plant-Based Message in Norway!

The Oslo Vegetarfestival is the largest plant-based event in central Oslo and has been running every year for over a decade. To further increase its impact, the organisation works with other festival and event organisers in the country to make plant-based food offerings available at their events. Oslo Vegetarfestival has also started hosting the Future Foods conference, Norway’s go-to event for the plant-based food industry, to foster innovation and collaboration among all stakeholders. It’s the only event of its kind in the country, made possible with the help of ProVeg Grants. Since launching in 2019, ProVeg Grants has provided more than 900 grants to organisations and individuals in over 90 countries working to change the global food system. Your donation to ProVeg Grants will help …

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Vegan military rations developed by Every Animal and proposed to the Ukraine's Ministry of Defence

Proposed vegan meal ready-to-eat (MRE) © Every Animal

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense to Include Vegan Military Rations From December 2024

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has announced plans to include kosher, halal, and vegan military rations starting from December 2024. The new ready-to-eat foods aim to meet the needs of military personnel, respecting their beliefs, health considerations, and ethical principles. They will be introduced following the completion of the development and approval process. According to the announcement, consultations have already occurred with various religious leaders and communities, and animal rights organizations such as Every Animal and UAnimals, which contributed to developing vegan rations with similar calorie content, nutritional value, ease of preparation, and price as traditional meals. Halyna Litosh, director of DOT project portfolio management, shared: “As a part of the Euro-Atlantic family, we must adopt an inclusive culture and strive to meet the needs of the …

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Major hotel chains operating in China have announced plans to make 30% to 70% of their menus plant-based by 2025 to align with global sustainability goals and customer preferences for healthy options.

© IHG Hotels & Resorts

Major Hotel Chains in China Commit to 30% Plant-Based Menus by 2025

Major hotel chains operating in China have announced plans to make 30% to 70% of their menus plant-based by 2025 to align with global sustainability goals and customer preferences for healthy options. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) which operates 700 hotels in Greater China plans to increase its plant-based menu items by 30% next year to reinforce its core values of responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. The Huazhu Group selected Orange Hotels, its Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) brand concept, to roll out the ambitious goal of transforming 70% of its menus to plant-based options across its 750 locations. Meanwhile, Dossen Hotel Group, the first domestic hotel chain to adopt a plant-based policy, aims for a 30% increase in plant-based menu items. Founded in 2006, …

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Miyoko Schinner portrait

Miyoko Schinner, Image credit Megan Thompson

Miyoko Schinner Becomes Co-Instructor at UC Berkeley’s Plant Futures Challenge Lab

UC Berkeley’s Plant Futures Challenge Lab has announced that pioneering plant-based entrepreneur Miyoko Schinner will join as a co-instructor for the upcoming fall semester. Launched in 2021 by then-students Brittany Sartor and Samantha Derrick, the Plant Futures Challenge Lab runs a course every spring and fall for undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students across various disciplines. The aim is to make connections between academia and the plant-based sector. In the coming semester, Schinner will teach alongside Sartor, who is the Program Director. Described as “a vital platform for the plant-based food and agricultural sector”, The Plant Futures Challenge Lab has partnerships with notable plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-based companies, including Beyond Meat, Daiya, Upside Foods, Meati, and Bond Pet Foods. Additionally, the initiative works with nonprofits such …

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Fundación Veg (previously Vegetarianos Hoy) has launched a campaign in the Santiago Metro to encourage a vegan diet during the Fiestas Patrias celebrations.

© Fab Ciraolo

“Be Like Joaquin Phoenix” Urges Fundación Veg in Campaign Promoting Vegan Diet in Chile

Fundación Veg (previously Vegetarianos Hoy) has launched a campaign in the Santiago Metro to encourage a vegan diet during Chile’s Fiestas Patrias, when traditional dishes made with meat and other animal products are widely consumed. The campaign features an image designed by national artist Fab Ciraolo, showing vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix surrounded by happy, alive farm animals and holding a vegan burger certified by V-Label. According to the non-profit the phrase is a nod to Phoenix’s 2020 Oscar speech promoting veganism. The phrase, “Be like Joaquin and discover the great variety of vegan products that exist today,” leads the campaign to encourage citizens to explore vegan options. A QR code on the panels directs users to the website www.sellovegano.com, offering a comprehensive resource of V-Label-certified …

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Schiphol Airport

© Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Make 60% of Food Offerings Plant-Based by 2030

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands’ main international airport and the third-largest in Europe, has announced plans to reduce emissions by expanding its plant-based food and beverage offerings. By 2030, 60% of the airport’s food offerings (measured by ingredient volume) will be plant-based, with appealing product presentations encouraging consumers to choose the new sustainable options. It is hoped that the measures will reduce emissions by 50% across the entire food offering compared to 2023. The menu changes will take place step-by-step in order to keep prices stable. The airport will also introduce other ethical food standards by 2025 — for example, coffee and cocoa will be FairTrade and all products offered will be certified deforestation-free. Food and beverage outlets will be expected to take responsibility for …

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UK airport group reports rise in sales of vegan dishes

© MAG

Vegan Brunch Skyrocketing: UK’s Largest Airport Group MAG Reports Surge in Plant-Based Orders

MAG, the UK’s largest airport group and operator of Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports, has seen a significant increase in the popularity of vegan and non-dairy products. Sales of vegan breakfasts and brunches are reportedly up 20% compared to last year, with one outlet (Giraffe at Manchester Airport) seeing an eightfold increase. A JD Wetherspoon pub at London Stansted has seen sales of its vegan chilli rise by 167%, while a vegan hot dog at Manchester’s Lion & Antelope is 90% more popular than last year. Sales of milk alternatives are also up, rising by 10% overall and 25% at Costa Coffee in Manchester Airport. This trend is particularly prevalent among coffee drinkers catching early morning flights. Oat milk is by far the …

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