Middle East

precision fermentation

© Vitaly Borkovsky - stock.adobe.com
Fermentation

NEOM Investment Fund Partners with Liberation Labs to Develop Precision Fermentation Facility in Saudi Arabia

The NEOM Investment Fund (NIF) has entered into a strategic partnership with Liberation Labs, a leader in precision fermentation biomanufacturing. This collaboration will support the development of a precision-fermentation facility in Saudi Arabia, designed to advance food production capabilities in the region. The project aligns with NEOM’s broader goals of establishing itself as a global hub for sustainable, industrial-scale food production. The new facility will be integral to Topian, NEOM’s food-focused company, which is dedicated to innovating food systems to meet global demands while addressing sustainability challenges. The partnership involves the construction of a biomanufacturing plant utilizing precision fermentation, a method that produces essential food ingredients, including high-value proteins, without the need for animal agriculture. Liberation Labs specializes in building purpose-designed facilities for producing basic …

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Peet's Coffee

© Peet's Coffee
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Peet’s Coffee Removes Plant-Based Milk Surcharge Following PETA and Paul McCartney Push

Peet’s Coffee will no longer charge an extra fee for plant-based milks, following pressure from animal rights group PETA and public support from Sir Paul McCartney. The announcement comes after PETA launched a national campaign urging the coffee chain to stop penalizing customers who opt for vegan milks, such as almond, oat, and pea-based varieties, instead of traditional cow’s milk. Peet’s currently charges at least 80 cents more for plant milks, a practice that PETA has criticized for contributing to environmental damage and animal welfare concerns, including the separation of mother cows from their calves. PETA’s campaign included a social media blitz, targeted billboards near Peet’s locations, and protests. The group argued that the upcharge on plant-based milks was inconsistent with Peet’s stated commitment to …

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Vegan silk brand niLuu

© niLuu
Textiles

Luxury Vegan Silk Brand niLuu Launches in Saudi Arabia & Qatar

US-based luxury vegan silk brand niLuu has expanded its presence in the Middle East, launching in Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the first time and arriving at a new outlet in the UAE. niLuu first launched in the UAE in 2023, making its debut at Atlantis, the Palm Jumeirah, and Galeries Lafayette in Downtown Dubai. Now, the brand has arrived at Dubai concept store The Edit, along with Rubaiyat Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and Jeddah. Customers can also find niLuu products at Harvey Nichols Doha in Qatar and a temporary pop-up at Westerly Boutique in Riyadh, which will run from February 1 until May 31. Additionally, shipping is now available across the Middle East from the brand’s online store. “The GCC market is very similar …

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Middle East Vegan Society

Seb Alex. Image: Middle East Vegan Society
Charity & Campaigns

V-Label Announces Partnership With Middle East Vegan Society

International vegan and vegetarian trademark V-Label has announced a partnership with the Middle East Vegan Society (MEVS) to promote the transparent labeling of vegan and vegetarian products in the region. The two organizations will work together to increase the adoption of V-Label certification among Middle Eastern producers and retailers. The collaboration will be active in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. V-Label provides certification for both food and non-food items that meet its stringent criteria. Through the collaboration with MEVS, the organization will support the growing number of consumers in the region who are turning to veganism. “We are thrilled to partner with the Middle East Vegan Society to further our mission of promoting veganism worldwide,” said Martin Ranninger, co-director of V-Label. “By …

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COP28 logo

COP28UAEOfficial
Politics & Law

COP28 Set to Finally Address Food System for Climate Change, Catering Will Be “Predominantly” Plant-Based

COP28, the annual UN environmental summit taking place this year in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, will emphasize the imperative of a global dietary shift to combat climate change, representing the first time the event has addressed food system change as part of climate disaster mitigation. Notably, unlike previous COP events, the COP28 Presidency has also committed to predominantly plant-based catering along with emissions labelling on food. Additionally, it will introduce a dedicated Food Day and mark the debut of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) roadmap to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, a coalition of NGOs will once again hold a Food4Climate Pavilion, marking the second time that COP has hosted the Pavilion, the only dedicated Pavilion to …

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© Pri Bakes
Sweets & Snacks

Vegan & Gluten-Free Brand Pri Bakes Sees Huge Success in the Middle East

In 2021, British snack producer Pri Bakes began expanding internationally, and soon saw successful launches with two Middle Eastern retailers — Choithrams in Dubai and the Sultan Centre in Kuwait.  Two years on, the brand is set for further expansion across the region. This month, Pri Bakes will launch at Tamimi stores in Saudi Arabia, before arriving at Spinneys in Dubai this September. Another Saudi Arabian retailer, Danube, will follow at the end of the year. The expansion comes as interest in wellness grows rapidly in the Middle East, driven by a diverse population and growing concerns about obesity. Pri Bakes has seen success by using regionally familiar ingredients such as dates and nuts to create sweet snacks featuring just five ingredients; the products also …

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Vegan Whole Cut Steak

©Chunk Foods/ The Butcher's Daughter
Market & Trends

Tradition Meets Innovation as Plant-Based Foods Surge in the Middle East

The Middle East is becoming a hotspot for plant-based food, with interest in meat and dairy alternatives growing at a fast pace, particularly since the pandemic. Sales of processed meat and dairy products are already relatively low in the region, and with obesity on the rise, plant-based foods are increasingly perceived as healthier options. Awareness of environmental and animal welfare issues is also growing, though it remains fairly low. As a result, meat and dairy alternatives are increasingly present on supermarket shelves, and many restaurants are offering vegan options. Currently, most plant-based products on offer are imported, but this is beginning to change. Plant-based eating is particularly prominent in Israel, which is believed to have one of the largest vegan populations (as a percentage) of …

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Meat.the end Chickpea Burger

Image courtesy of Meat.the end

Protein

Meat.The End Launches “World’s First” Texturised Chickpea Protein Burger

Meat.The End, an Israeli food-tech company that produces texturised proteins as well as a range of meat analogs including nuggets and burgers that are offered at Burger King Israel, says it has developed the first-ever burger made from texturized chickpea protein.  Founded in 2020, the company focuses on industrial extrusion processes, and states it is already making its first steps in “revolutionizing” the mass production of alternative protein products. The founders report plans to establish what they claim is the only extrusion pilot plant in Israel, with an investment of over €3 million, this summer. “The food market of the future requires us to rethink protein sources. The collapse of climatic stability, and an ongoing rise in beef prices put enormous pressure on the global …

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Emirates Palace vegan rooms

© Mandarin Oriental
Tourism & Travel

UAE: Five-Star Hotel Emirates Palace Launches Vegan Rooms at No Extra Cost

Luxury Abu Dhabi hotel Emirates Palace is now catering to vegan guests with six rooms free of animal products and materials. Whilst in the process of developing new food options for those following special diets, the hotel’s management realised that they did not have any guest rooms suitable for those following a vegan lifestyle. They decided to rectify this by offering rooms with leather-free furniture, wooden floors instead of wool carpets, cruelty-free bathroom amenities, and sustainable bedding. Guests can also enjoy a vegan minibar and in-room dining menu, along with a selection of fruit. The laundry detergent used to wash the sheets is cruelty-free, and key cards are wooden instead of plastic for increased sustainability. Flowers are used to keep the rooms smelling fresh, rather …

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Float Foods OnlyEg

©Float Foods
Egg Alternatives

Float Foods’ Alt Egg to Launch in UAE Via Partnership With Bidfood Middle East

Singapore’s Float Foods has announced that its plant-based egg alternatives will be launching in the UAE via a partnership with the region’s largest food service distributor. Bidfood Middle East will offer four OnlyEg products — Shreds, Omelette, Tamagoyaki, and Patties — to UAE businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and airlines. The egg alternatives may also be available in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman. OnlyEg is said to provide a healthier alternative to chicken eggs, with 70% less saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 8 to 12 grams of plant-based protein per 100 grams. The egg alternatives are also free of artificial ingredients. “We at Bidfood Middle East are seeing increasing demand for plant-based options from our customers. Bringing OnlyEg to the Middle East market is …

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crabcake PLNT

Image courtesy of PLNT
Company News

PLNT Showcases Vegan Crab Cakes That “Smell and Taste Like Real Thing” at Gulfood

Dutch plant-based meat and seafood producer PLNT, part of the Future Food Group, is showcasing a vegan crabcake product at Gulfood, the world’s largest food exhibition, which says this year the event is 30 times larger than the previous year with over 5,000 exhibitors. The crabcakes are based on wheat protein along with spices and enhancers such as nori for a seafood flavour and “smell and taste like the real thing”, according to Khaleej Times. Plant meat born from meat Future Food Group debuted PLNT back in 2020, from parent company Jan Zandbergen Group which originated as a traditional butcher in the 1950s. Speaking at the time of the launch, Jos Havekotte, Innovation Manager at Future Food Group, commented: “Meat eaters are our target group. …

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Meala FoodTech

© Meala
Investments & Acquisitions

Meala FoodTech Raises $1.9M for Multifunctional Alt Meat Proteins

Israel’s Meala FoodTech has raised $1.9 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its multifunctional protein platform. The startup is working to replace ingredients commonly used in plant-based meats, such as methylcellulose, with clean-label alternatives. The aim is for alt meats to have a short list of components that can easily be recognised by consumers. To achieve this, Meala has developed multi-functional proteins that improve texture while also acting as binding and gelling agents. The platform works with several types of meat alternatives, including burgers, sausages, and nuggets. Proteins for use in egg and fish alternatives are also under development. The pre-seed funding round was led by The Kitchen FoodTech Hub and DSM Venturing, with participation from Milk & Honey Ventures. Meala will use the …

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believer meats' cultivated chicken dish

© BELIEVER Meats
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Groundbreaking Findings From BELIEVER Meats “Break That Big Wall of No” For Cultivated Chicken

A new study led by BELIEVER Meats as published in Nature Foods unveils a comprehensive, cost-efficient GMO-free production method for cultivated chicken. According to BELIEVER Meats, in the study conducted by its founder and CTO Professor Yaakov Nahmias, researchers have found answers to some of the industry’s challenges regarding cost-efficiency and transparency in cultivated chicken production. “These findings break that ‘big wall of no’ described by Paul Wood and David Humbrid in last year’s The Counter article that challenged the feasibility of lab-grown meat,” BELIEVER Meats states. The production of non-GMO immortal cell lines, new standards for transparency in the field According to the cultivated meat company, the study shows that producing non-tumorigenic cell lines without genetic engineering and long-term stability is possible. BELIEVER Meats says researchers …

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Better Plate

© MAF
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Startups Invited to Apply for Middle East’s Only Alt Protein Accelerator Better Plate

Israel’s Modern Agriculture Foundation (MAF) has opened applications for the second cohort of Better Plate, an alternative protein track within the MassChallenge Israel accelerator program. MAF launched Better Plate last year, as there were no local accelerators catering to alt protein startups. The program aims to connect startups to experts and industry leaders, along with introducing them to technologies that could help them overcome any challenges they may be facing. The 2021 cohort was highly successful, with two of the five participants chosen to join MassChallenge Israel’s roadshow to Boston and New York. Out of 42 MassChallenge participants across six tracks, just ten startups were chosen for the roadshow, meaning that the Better Plate cohort was significantly overrepresented. Supporting the alt protein industry MAF describes …

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Novella

The Novella team. © Novella
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Novella Uses Cultivation to Produce Botanical Ingredients Without the Plant

Israeli nutri-tech startup Novella has developed a platform to produce nutritious botanical ingredients without the need to grow the entire plant. The platform works by screening plant tissues to determine those with the highest concentrations of active ingredients, before using these tissues to form a cell culture that can be amplified in bioreactors. The result is a powdered product made of whole-cell plant tissues with an increased concentration of active ingredients. The cells are encased in a natural protective shell that prevents oxidation and assures bioavailability. Novella’s proprietary technology addresses the growing demand for nutraceuticals, while overcoming issues such as supply chain disruption, political instability, and climate fluctuations. It eliminates lengthy cultivation processes, the use of large amounts of agricultural land, and complex extraction processes …

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jackfruit pepperoni pizza

© Jack & Bry/Pizza Express
Food Service

Jack & Bry’s Jackfruit Pepperoni Goes International With Pizza Express UAE Launch

Jack & Bry, a UK producer of jackfruit-based meat alternatives, has launched its flagship jackfruit pepperoni at Pizza Express in the United Arab Emirates. The pepperoni, which is already used on Pizza Express UK’s Vegan American Hot Pizza, will appear on the American Jack Pizza in the UAE. “There are major opportunities for restaurants to tailor their offering towards flexitarians seeking meat-free alternatives and we’re delighted to help Pizza Express meet this demand,” said Chris Owen, Jack & Bry’s head of marketing. “Our jackfruit pepperoni has our signature meaty texture and flavour — a must-have ingredient for pizzas, one of the most popular dishes in the world!” New products and listings A year ago, Jack & Bry launched a range of products at Ocado, including …

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Wilk team

©Wilk
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Israel’s Wilk Unveils “World’s First” Hybrid Yogurt Made With Cultivated Milk Fat

Israeli bio-foodtech company Wilk has developed what it claims is the first ever hybrid yogurt containing cultivated milk fats. The yogurt is said to have the same taste, texture, and nutritional profile as dairy yogurt. According to Wilk, milk fats significantly impact the properties of dairy products, meaning that cultivated fat could revolutionise the development of animal-free alternatives. Wilk says the new yogurt will serve as a concept product, helping to validate the company’s technology and future capabilities. It will also support Wilk’s efforts to develop cultivated human breast milk fat for use in infant formula, potentially replacing the vegetable fats currently used. Coco-Cola funding Last year, Wilk secured $2 million in funding from Coca-Cola Israel to accelerate the development of its cultivated milk components. …

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Neat Burger

© Neat Burger
Fast Food

Neat Burger to Expand into Dubai and Italy, With Eventual Retail Launch Planned

As reported by FoodNavigator, plant-based QSR chain Neat Burger is set to expand into new markets following its successful launch in the US. Co-founded by Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Neat Burger currently has eight locations in London and one in New York. The UK-headquartered chain will open its first Dubai location in November, and has also revealed plans to expand into Italy in the near future. Neat Burger says it will also eventually launch its products for retail, after first building up a customer base via its restaurants. The company cites other brands that have successfully made the transition, such as Pizza Express and Nando’s. Global expansion Neat Burger first announced plans to expand globally back in 2020, when it had just three restaurants. …

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New Food Invest 2023

© ProVeg International

Fairs & Events

New Food Invest 2022 Takes Place Next Week

A host of game-changing speakers are lined up to present at the New Food Invest 2022 conference, co-hosted by Beyond Animal and ProVeg International, which takes place online on Thursday, 27 October. Focusing on Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the event will bring together a plethora of alt protein and cell-ag companies, startups, investors and VC firms, including the following speakers, who will address corporate investment in alt proteins, and whether the public is ready for cultivated meat, amongst other topics. Dwayne Holmes, Director, Responsible Research & Innovation, New Harvest Ludovic Reysset, Head of Plant-Based Platform, Sonae Claire Smith, Founder, Beyond Animal, Beyond Investing Professor Nick Lin-Hi, University of Vechta Antii Savilaasko, Partner and Head of Research, Impact Cubed Malte Clausen, Partner and Associate …

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bags of plant-based chocolate NXT

© Callebaut
Products & Launches

Callebaut’s Plant-Based Chocolate NXT for Chefs and Artisans Arrives in Saudi Arabia

Callebaut, the Belgian gourmet chocolate division of The Barry Callebaut Group, recently launched its plant-based chocolate ‘Callebaut NXT’ in Saudi Arabia. NXT is a 100% plant-based, dark and ‘milk’ chocolate line specially curated for chefs and artisans. According to research by Barry Callebaut, plant-based chocolate is showing a rapid growth in interest, especially among young people. Across the Middle East, plant-based food demand is rising, including desserts which have tremendous importance in the food culture. Callebaut’s NXT has reinvented Belgian gourmet chocolate to make vegan, plant-based, allergen-free, and planet-friendly desserts and chocolates made worldwide. NXT chocolate creations in Riyadh As part of its market launch strategy in Saudi Arabia, Callebaut held an event at the Marriot Hotel in Riyadh to demonstrate NXT’s wide range of possibilities. …

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