Chickpea flour in a bowl and a bag of raw chickpeas

© Supplant Foods

Manufacturing & Technology

India’s Supplant Foods Secures Patent for Functional and Flavorless Chickpea Flour

Supplant Foods, a company based in India that sources, processes, and markets high-quality plant-based ingredients, announces that it has secured a patent for a method to produce a high-performance chickpea flour for plant-based alternatives and gluten-free foods. Developed by Supplant Foods’ team of researchers and experts, the patented process enhances the functionality of chickpea protein, effectively eliminates the compounds responsible for undesired off-flavors, and removes the color, expanding its use for food and beverages. Headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, Supplant Foods has access to raw materials and low-cost quality manufacturing, allowing it to create a long-term, sustained value chain of sustainable products. The company has distribution partners in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, and Australia, in addition to India.   The taste challenge Despite the health and sustainability …

more

India's cultivated meat startup Biokraft Foods has announced a strategic collaboration with ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR) to create cultivated snow and rainbow trout products.

© Subin-Sailendran - stock.adobe.com

Cultivated Seafood

Biokraft Foods Partners with ICAR-DCFR for Cultivated Trout Products in India

Indian cultivated meat startup Biokraft Foods has announced a strategic collaboration with ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR) to create cultivated snow and rainbow trout products — two species that hold significant commercial value in the Indian market. Through the collaboration, ICAR-DCFR will develop the fish cell lines, and Biokraft Foods will create final products using 3D bioprinting and customized bioinks.  The ICAR-DCFR is India’s pioneer research institute working toward sustainable development of cold water aquaculture, management, and conservation of hill stream fishes. It operates under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Cultivating meat in India The novel food regulatory body in India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is already working to set a regulatory framework for approving cell-based foods, including cultivated …

more

a photo of shrimp

© Klevermeat

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

India to Set Regulatory Framework to Move Forward Cultivated Meat & Seafood

As reported by the Good Food Institute, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is setting a regulatory framework for the approval of cell-based foods, including cultivated meat and seafood. The development of regulations by FSSAI marks a significant step to move forward cultivated meat while joining other countries’ efforts to regulate its safety through a predictable and clear regulatory path to market. In India, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has launched a cultivated fish project and the Department of Biotechnology and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology supports cultivated meat research.   The cultivated meat and seafood industry in India is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to benefit from the country’s thriving pharmaceutical sector.  Ingredients for cultivated meat …

more

BVeg Foods expands internationally

Image credit: BVeg Foods

Market & Trends

Indian Consumers Increasingly Embrace Plant-Based Foods in 2024

Indian consumers are increasingly demanding plant-based dishes, according to Corporate Executive Chef Rakesh Sethi of Radisson Hotel Group. Sethi told Hotelier India that plant-based foods would be one of the most significant trends in fine dining this year, predicting a “noteworthy surge” in the number of dishes containing plant-based meat or other plant proteins. He said that protein alternatives were increasingly being used within Indian cuisine, noting that this was part of a global trend towards meatless diets. This shift is highlighted by the fact that international food and hospitality fair Aahar — which takes place in New Delhi — is set to include plant-based meat and other plant proteins this year, seemingly for the first time. Additionally, Veganuary India reported in December that it …

more

the Chinese startup will launch the 70/30 Mycelium Research Lab, located within a renowned biotech startup incubator,

© 70/30 Food Tech

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

70/30 Food Tech to Launch Mycelium Research Lab to Create Affordable Proteins for Asia

Shanghai-based 70/30 Food Tech, a 100% plant-based ready meal company and a producer of plant, fungi, and mycelium-based ingredients, announces that it has completed a seed-extension fundraising round (the raised amount has not been disclosed). With the funds, the Chinese startup will launch the 70/30 Mycelium Research Lab, seemingly located in Bangalore, India, within a renowned biotech startup incubator to develop cost-effective fungi-based biomass ingredients for alternative meats. With this expansion, the startup will have a presence in two important Asian markets. According to the press release, the funding round received strong backing from investors, with participation from Better Bite Ventures and support from previous seed investors. “We believe that mycelium-based sustainable protein products can be a gateway to broader consumer adoption in Asia, especially given …

more

©KFC

Fast Food

KFC Could Be Set to Open a Vegetarian Location in India’s Holy City of Ayodhya

Officials in the Indian city of Ayodhya have said they are prepared to grant KFC permission to open a fully vegetarian location. Ayodhya is considered a holy city, with ties to religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Consequently, the sale of meat and alcohol is banned within the city’s Panch Kosi Parikrama (a 15-kilometre pilgrimage route), in line with religious beliefs. This means that KFC has been prevented from opening a location in the area to date. However, tourism is on the increase in Ayodhya following the opening of the new Ram Mandir temple last month. As a result, officials are welcoming major fast food chains into the city — as long as they serve fully vegetarian menus. Discussions with several chains are reportedly underway, …

more

© bit24 - stock.adobe.com

Cultivated Seafood

India’s Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Launches Pioneering Project to Cultivate Fish

India’s Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has launched a pioneering project to cultivate fish, reports The New Indian Express. The CMFRI, a leading tropical marine research organization, aims to leverage cellular agriculture to address the growing demand for fish while reducing the environmental impact of overfishing and traditional fishing practices. As reported by local media, CMFRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Neat Meatt, a cultivated meat technology solutions provider based in Delhi, to develop a commercially viable process for large-scale production of high-value species like kingfish.  Collaborative goals The collaboration will see the CMFRI work on genetics, biochemistry, and analytics, while Neat Meatt will optimize cell growth media, develop scaffolds or microcarriers for cell attachment, and establish a platform for commercial-scale operations. CMFRI Director Dr. A …

more

Virat Kohli goes viral after eating plant-based chicken tikka by Blue Tribe on Instagram

Image: Virat Kohli on Facebook

Celebrities

Indian Cricketer Goes Viral After Enjoying Blue Tribe’s Plant-Based Chicken Tikka

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has gone viral on Instagram after sharing a photo of himself enjoying Blue Tribe‘s plant-based chicken tikka. Kohli tagged the company in the post, saying it had “really nailed” the product. The athlete attracted confusion and controversy from some fans, who did not realise the chicken was plant-based. Kohli is well-known for being a vegetarian, having made the shift a few years ago after experiencing health issues. Kohli and his wife, the Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, previously invested in Blue Tribe in February of last year. The couple are vocal advocates for plant-based meat. Blue Tribe’s chicken tikka alternative is made primarily from soy and wheat protein. The company offers several meat alternatives aimed at the Indian market, including soy chaap, …

more

Indian veggie food

© ashtproductions - stock.adobe.com

Studies & Numbers

Veganuary India to See Record Participation as 59% of Indians Consider a Vegan Diet

Veganuary India is expecting a record number of participants in its 2024 campaign, after a YouGov survey revealed that 59% of Indians are likely to consider a vegan diet in the near future. 74% of respondents believed a vegan diet was healthy, 72% said it was good for the environment, and 73% thought that it helped to stop animal exploitation. 62% said they thought the vegan lifestyle was easy to maintain, while 61% believed there were enough vegan food choices. 55% said that the diet does not mean compromising on taste. India has a long-running tradition of vegetarianism for religious reasons, and this was evident in the survey responses. Almost 70% of participants said they believed the country’s vegetarian traditions could help to fuel the …

more

Kathalfy jackfruit

© Kathalfy

Food & Beverage

India’s Kathalfy Offers Clean-Label Products With Jackfruit as a Hero Ingredient

Kathalfy is an Indian company producing a range of clean-label jackfruit-based products, including pancake mixes, burgers, chips, pickles, and curries. The range is made with organic and minimally processed ingredients; for example, the burgers contain up to 77% jackfruit, combined with red kidney beans, cornstarch, wheat gluten, and natural seasonings. The brand aims to promote conscious living and healthier lifestyles by offering plant-based versions of traditional foods. Kathalfy’s products are shelf-stable and can be stored at ambient temperatures — important for the Indian market, where the infrastructure to transport frozen products is often lacking and many consumers do not have a freezer. “Naturally available resources” Kathalfy was founded by Aman Chhabra, who frequently enjoyed jackfruit throughout his childhood but struggled to find the fruit at …

more

© Gorilla Lifestyle

Fashion, Design & Beauty

PETA India Reveals Winners of Vegan Fashion Awards 2023

PETA India has announced the winners of its 2023 Vegan Fashion Awards, which recognise brands and designers working to remove animals from the fashion industry. The winners are: Best Vegan Fashion Moment: The Central Leather Research Institute, for developing technology to make vegan leather using mango pulp. Best Vegan Style Icon: Bollywood star Wamiqa Gabbi, for her animal advocacy and leather-free fashion. Best Vegan Sneakers: Gorilla Lifestyle, a vegan streetwear brand targeted at young people. Best Vegan Kids’ Shoes: Aretto, for its leather-free adjustable shoes that can expand up to three sizes as a child grows. The brand has been backed by cricketer Hardik Pandya. Best Vegan Sarees: Swachhata Pukare Foundation, which makes silk-free handloom sarees from fibres extracted from water hyacinths. Best Vegan Personal …

more

© Ode to Gaia

Sweets & Snacks

Mumbai’s Ode to Gaia Aims to “Flip the Script on Vegan Patisserie” in India

Ode to Gaia is a fully plant-based patisserie in Mumbai, India. The business aims to “flip the script on vegan patisserie”, offering luxury pastries and desserts that are free of dairy, eggs, and gelatin. Founded in 2019 by Chef Naimita Jagasi, Ode to Gaia uses innovative ingredients to make plant-based versions of complex desserts. This includes a specially developed potato protein-based egg substitute that can be used to stabilize cakes, mousses, and more. The patisserie has also created its own white chocolate alternative made from cashews and cacao butter. Ode to Gaia has a focus on sustainable sourcing, using Fair Trade and locally produced ingredients where possible. The patisserie also works to uplift women through equal-opportunity employment and upskilling. Additionally, Ode to Gaia caters for …

more

GoodDot hosts Plant Protein Festival in partnership with Kenilworth Hotels

© GoodDot/Kenilworth

Studies & Numbers

India’s Smart Protein Market to Reach $4.2 Billion by 2030, Reveals GFI India’s First-Ever State of Industry Report

The Good Food Institute India has unveiled its first-ever State of the Industry Report analyzing India’s emerging smart protein industry. According to the organisation, the country’s smart protein market has the potential to offer a total economic opportunity of $4.2 bn by 2030. The report highlights the key developments in India’s smart protein sector over the past five years, from 2021 to April 2023. A tool for those working in the industry, it acknowledges the challenges and opportunities in business, innovation, investment, science, and policy while it digs into consumer dietary choices and the country’s sustainable goals, explains GFI India. “The road ahead is long, but we’re truly at an inflection point today, and this report is a testimony to that — 120 pages capturing the history …

more

Tempeh Today, Schouten Food

© Schouten Food

Company News

Tempeh Today and Marel India Partner to Install Small-Scale Tempeh Fermentation Units

Henk Schouten, the CEO of plant-based protein company Schouten Europe, launched Tempeh Today in India in 2021, aiming to establish 100 small-scale fermentation units (SFUs) for tempeh production within five years. To reach these goals, CFSS B.V., the company behind Tempeh Today in India, and Marel India Pvt. Ltd. have announced a strategic partnership to boost tempeh production and continue to offer a sustainable solution for proteins in India. Marel India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marel, an international company that provides high-quality equipment, solutions, services, and software for the food processing industry.  Small and micro units for tempeh “The collaboration with Marel is a crucial next step in rolling out the concept. I am thrilled that Marel is supporting this initiative, and I look forward to our future …

more

GoodDot hosts Plant Protein Festival in partnership with Kenilworth Hotels

© GoodDot/Kenilworth

Fairs & Events

India: GoodDot Partners With Kenilworth Hotels & Resorts for Plant Protein Festival

A plant protein festival took place in Kolkata, India this weekend (September 7-10) as part of a collaboration between plant-based company GoodDot and luxury resort operator Kenilworth Hotels & Resorts. The event took place at Aromas, a coffee shop at Kenilworth Kolkata, and allowed guests to sample a range of dishes made with GoodDot’s plant-based meat. These included chili, kebabs, Thai curries, rogan josh, and more. The aim of the festival was to showcase the flavor and versatility of plant-based proteins, while also raising awareness of the sustainability of plant-based diets. It comes after a report earlier this year found that there had been a “noticeable increase” in plant-based eating in India. “Acknowledging the pivotal role of alternative proteins in mitigating climate change, Kenilworth Kolkata …

more

Sattvik Council of India launches its labelling certification program in Singapore.

© Sattvik Council of India

Company News

Sattvik Council of India Launches Vegetarian and Vegan Certification Services in Singapore

Sattvik Council of India, which claims to be the world’s first third-party vegetarian and vegan certification body and standards developer, has officially launched a new office in Singapore, Sattvik Certifications Singapore (SCSG). The services offered by SCSG, under the leadership of Director Venkataraman Kumar, encompass testing, inspection, and certification solutions for various industries and their products, including F&B, food service and hospitality, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textiles, and cleaning. Additionally, the SCSG also launched a Buddhist manual for Singapore’s vegetarian and vegan Buddhist community. According to Abhishek Biswas, founder of the Sattvik Council of India, the vegetarian and vegan population worldwide is growing, and Singapore is the second most vegan-friendly country in Asia. SCSG seeks to help this growing community make better-informed choices by ensuring that products meet specific standards and …

more

Banana bark bags

© FoReT

Fashion, Design & Beauty

India’s FOReT Launches Biodegradable Vegan Bags Made From Banana Bark

Indian vegan fashion brand FOReT has developed a collection of sustainable and fully biodegradable bags made from locally sourced banana bark. To make the bags, the bark is harvested using a sharp knife, in a process that does not harm the banana tree. Fibers are then extracted from the bark and formed into twine, which is crocheted to make the plant-based bags. Finally, an inner lining made from cotton is added, along with other features such as a strap and tassels. The bags are made by rural Indian women, providing them with economic opportunities. The collection features several designs, including totes, bucket bags, and a messenger bag. The latest addition is the Moon Crest, which can transition between a clutch, sling, and waist bag. Due …

more

BVeg Foods expands internationally

Image credit: BVeg Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

BVeg Foods Sets Sights on Global Expansion as India’s Plant-Based Meat Exports Surge

BVeg Foods, the largest plant-based meat manufacturer in India, is now venturing into international markets. The company has shipped 22 tons of frozen vegan beef chunks to the UK, reports the Good Food Food Institute India. This shipment signals the growing demand for plant-based meat alternatives in Europe and the surge in the country’s exports as a plant-based provider. India’s agrarian economy and diversity of indigenous crops mean that the country is ideally placed to be “the epicenter for the global smart protein ecosystem,” states BVeg Foods. According to the Smart Protein Economic Analysis, the export potential of India for plant-based meat in 2030 ranges from INR 2,194 crore (USD 278 million) to INR 6,824 crore (USD 864 million). This economic analysis is a collaboration between …

more

Wakao Foods plant-based meat shipment

© Wakao Foods

Company News

Wakao Foods Exports “India’s Largest” Plant-Based Meat Shipment to the US

Indian alt meat brand Wakao Foods has begun exporting its jackfruit-based products, sending a 13-tonne container — said to be India’s largest ever plant-based meat shipment — to the US. The milestone was celebrated in a ceremony at Kochi Port, featuring notable Indian dignitaries such as IAS Rajesh Agrawal, chairman of APEDA (The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). The container is the first of two that will be exported. Agrawal said that India’s demand for plant-based meat was growing rapidly, creating opportunities to take advantage of the country’s crop biodiversity. He added that the production of crops such as jackfruit has benefits for farmers and is helping to diversify the protein supply, addressing malnutrition. “Dynamic food scene” Wakao Foods claims to be …

more

Evolved Foods

© Evolved Foods

Investments & Acquisitions

India’s Evolved Foods Raises $891K to Address Protein Deficiency With Alt Meats

Indian alt meat brand Evolved Foods has raised Rs 7.30 crore (about $891,000 USD) in a seed funding round led by Rainmatter Health and Kamala Capital. Other participants included Anvitha Prashanth, Aprameya Radhakrishna, and various angel investors. According to Evolved Foods, 80% of Indians do not meet the recommended daily allowance for protein consumption, while others rely on animal foods such as meat and paneer. The company says its signature Plant Meat — which is made from soy, rice, and coconut — could provide a solution that improves health without putting a strain on the planet. The product has also been designed to cater to Indian tastes. Dishes made with Evolved Plant Meat are already available at various food service outlets across Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, …

more