HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and Chief Executive of KBW Ventures

HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and Chief Executive of KBW Ventures

Society

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed to Open 30 Vegan Restaurants in Middle East

Vegan Prince Khaled, prolific investor of numerous vegan businesses across the world, has revealed plans to open 30 restaurants across the middle east. The plans are part of the Folia partnership, Prince Khaled’s consultancy and teaching partnership with vegan chef Matthew Kenney. Folia’s first plant-based menu – with ten items created by chef Kenney – became available earlier this year at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.

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David Yeung – Right Treat Founder & CEO

© Right Treat

Interviews

Right Treat: “There Is No Doubt the Impact Will Be Immense”

David Yeung is the Founder & CEO of Right Treat, and also launched Green Monday, a social venture with the mission to tackle climate change, food insecurity and public health. His work in the field of sustainability and innovation has earned him the award of “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” by the World Economic Forum and Schwab Foundation. Other honors and recognitions include “Ten Outstanding Young Persons Hong Kong,” “50 Most Innovative Companies” and “Idea of the Year.”

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(c) Veganz-logo

Company News

Veganz Expands into China

Veganz, the German market leader in vegan food, is making good progress with its internationalization. Twenty selected products from the vegan pioneer are now available on Xiaohongshu, China’s largest social e-commerce platform with 100 million users. “The Xiaohongshu social selling platform, which is aimed at women between the ages of 18 and 35, is tailored to our target group. In our branded flagship store and in the vegan community on WeChat, our products have been making a promising impact since August of this year,” said Jan Bredack, founder of Veganz. In October, Veganz will expand its reach to JingDong, the country’s second-largest e-commerce platform. A market study by Euromonitor has examined the global trend towards meat-free consumption in China. The vegan food market in China …

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Sustainability / Environment

Hong Kong: Vegan Pioneer Yeung Calls for Meat Renunciation for Environmental Reasons

David Yeung, co-founder of the vegan food chain Green Common and the Green Mondays campaign in Hong Kong, recently spoke at the Sustainable Foods Summit in Singapore about the negative consequences of continued high meat consumption in Asia. He drew attention to the catastrophic environmental consequences of animal product consumption. “The combination of climate change, food insecurity and health problems means that we are at a very critical stage in the history of the planet,” Yeung said. “If we do nothing, we will move the boundaries and no one knows how that will affect us. If we continue to consume as we do now, our food system and our ecosystem will collapse.” According to Yeung, the more than 1.5 billion livestock cows in the world …

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Health

Singapore: Plant-Based Preservative Made from Natural Substances

In Singapore, a group of scientists has discovered a plant-based alternative to conventional artificial preservatives. The organic preservative is based on a natural substance found in fruit and vegetables. Tests have shown that the plant-based alternative keeps food fresh for longer and can also ward off pathogens. A research team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, together with senior Professor William Chen, Director of the NTU Food Science & Technology programme, has discovered a new type of preservative of vegetable origin. They are known as flavonoids, possessing antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and found in almost all fruits and vegetables. As phytonutrients, they occur naturally in plants and are responsible for defending them against pathogens, herbivores and pests. Senior Professor Chen explained, “This …

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Market & Trends

Thailand: Trend Towards Plant-Based Nutrition

The results of a recent study by the market research agency Mintel show that the current dietary trend in Thailand is strongly focused on plant-based and personalized products. The reason for this is the increasing health awareness of many consumers, along with an increase in veganism. Last May, 1500 Internet users aged 16 and older living in metropolitan regions of Thailand were surveyed. Four out of five of the consumers surveyed had set themselves the goal of eating healthier. This shows that there is a growing interest in plant-based diets. For example, 53% want to reduce their meat consumption and 45% are aiming for a vegetarian or vegan diet. The consumers surveyed also tended towards plant-based alternatives when it came to protein; 55% said that …

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jackfruit sandwich

© Today.com

Society

Jackfruit Farmers in India Receive Government Funding

The Indian government has announced plans to push the processing and export of the jackfruit as a priority, with plans to start the first jackfruit processing plant to begin operations at Mala in Thrissur next month. Jackfruit has been increasing in popularity as a new vegan ingredient, and is often prepared and sold as a “pulled” product with a similar consistency and taste to pulled pork.

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A petri dish with crustacean flesh

© MarineXcell

Cultivated Seafood

MarineXcell: Unique Stem Cell Technology for Cultivated Shrimp, Lobster, and Crab

90% of the world’s shellfish stocks are exploited, overexploited, or depleted, gravely affecting marine ecosystems. The FAO estimates that by 2030, global demand for shellfish will rise significantly, challenging traditional production methods, including aquaculture. “Cultured shellfish meat emerges as a strategic response to these challenges,” Prof. Yosef Buganim, CSO of the Israeli startup MarineXcell, told Cultivated X. MarineXcell, founded in 2023 by Buganim, an HHMI international scholar renowned for pioneering work in stem cell research; Dr. Gadi Lipiner (CEO), an experienced executive and scientific consultant; and Leonardo Berezowsky, a finance and operations expert, aims to create a sustainable and reliable source of seafood. “By leveraging technological advancements, MarineXcell aims to address the increasing demand for shrimp, lobster, and crab, minimizing environmental impact, preserving marine ecosystems, …

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Gesunder Veganer Burger

© Fischer Food Design – stock.adobe.com

Gastronomy & Food Service

Vegan burgers successful in “The Butcher’s Club” restaurant

Nowadays, vegan products are an integral part of the product range at many supermarkets. Many restaurants and fast-food chains are also aware of the increasing popularity of plant-based products, and are offering alternatives. But how can vegan products make it into restaurants which have previously focused entirely on meat?

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