Portugal

Almond milk stock

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Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Vast Majority of Nutrition Professionals in Spain & Portugal Say Plant-Based Dairy Can Be Part of a Healthy Diet

New surveys conducted by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) in Spain and Portugal have indicated that there is strong support for plant-based dairy alternatives among nutrition professionals. In Spain, 88% of professionals agreed that plant-based alternatives can be part of a healthy diet, while 78% supported their inclusion in the national dietary guidelines. Results were similar in Portugal — 93% said plant-based products can be incorporated into healthy diets, and 76% were in favour of their inclusion in dietary guidelines. However, 81% of nutrition professionals in Spain and 96% in Portugal believed that dairy alternatives should be fortified with vitamins and/or minerals. Furthermore, the vast majority in both countries agreed that the nutritional value of the products depends on the type of plant used. …

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Baby milk stock

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Fermentation

Portugal’s PFx Biotech Secures €5M to Produce Bioidentical Human Milk Proteins Through Precision Fermentation

Portuguese startup PFx Biotech has raised €2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Buenavista Equity Partners, with support from EIT Food and Beta Capital. The company has also secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), taking the total amount it has raised to €5 million. PFx Biotech is focused on producing highly functional bioidentical human milk proteins through precision fermentation. The aim is to provide sustainable, non-GMO, and allergen-free nutritional solutions for all life stages, including infants, athletes, and the elderly. The new capital will be used to fund bespoke lab facilities, an expanded team, and the pre-industrial scale-up of PFx Biotech’s lactoferrin. On LinkedIn, the startup says it is now open to strategic partnerships …

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SWAP Food chicken

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Products & Launches

Heura and SWAP Launch Plant-Based Chicken Fillet Across 2,000 European Supermarkets

Heura and SWAP have jointly launched a plant-based fillet across major supermarkets in France, Spain, and Portugal. The product, named “Suprême,” is now available in more than 2,000 retail outlets, including Carrefour, Leclerc, Monoprix, Intermarché, and Super U. The rollout will continue through June 2025. The product is a result of a collaboration between Barcelona-based Heura and French food tech company SWAP, previously known as Umiami. The Suprême is manufactured in France and developed to replicate the taste and texture of chicken breast using only plant-based ingredients. It contains seven ingredients and provides 20 grams of protein per serving, earning a Nutri-Score A. This marks SWAP’s first entry into the mass retail market. “This partnership with Heura marks a key milestone for SWAP: our entry …

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Afonso-Gusmao and Diana Marques showing cultivated sea bass prototypes.

© Técnico Lisboa
Cultivated Seafood

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa Unveil Cultivated Sea Bass Filets 3D Printed with Microalgae Inks

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa, the School of Engineering, Technology, and Science at the University of Lisbon, have successfully produced cultivated sea bass filets using 3D bioprinting. The researchers claim their development as a world first. The first attempts produced thin sashimi slices, though current progress has led to fillets up to six centimeters thick, featuring the characteristic texture of sea bass as well as its aroma due to the microalgae-based bioinks used for bioprinting, explains Técnico Lisboa. The research in fish cultivation began in 2019 as part of a project for the Entrepreneurship curricular unit that aimed to develop fish for sushi. Since then, the research has continued in the laboratory of the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), and the team has grown from four …

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bluu seafood cultivated salmon served on a black plate with lemon rinds

Bluu Seafood's cultivated sashimi © Bluu GmbH/Wim Jansen
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

New Food in Europe: CellAgri Portugal to Host Key Conference, Cellular Agriculture Europe Welcomes 12 Members

CellAgri Portugal, the country’s association for the development of cellular agriculture, announces its 2nd International Conference on the 4th and 5th of October at Fórum in Lisbon. The abstract submission deadline for interested collaborators is the 30th of July 2024. The conference aims to bring together leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in the field, from cultivated meat and seafood to leather and precision fermentation ingredients. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, CellAgri Portugal has organized a dynamic program featuring a lineup of renowned keynote speakers including: Dr. Sebastian Rakers, co-founder of the German cultivated seafood company BLUU Seafood Dr. Marianne Ellis Bath University’s CARMA – Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub Dr. Elliot Swartz, principal cultivated meat scientist at the …

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Microalgae based caviar

© GreenCoLab
Fermentation

GreenCoLab Unveils Innovative Microalgae and Seaweed-Based Caviar, Burgers, and Beer

GreenCoLab, a Portuguese non-profit biotech that leverages microalgae and seaweed to create nutraceutical and F&B products, has unveiled three prototypes that will debut at Vitafoods Europe.Vitafoods Europe 2024 The company’s developments include a microalgae-based alternative to sturgeon roe, microalgae artisanal beer, and algae-based burgers. The prototypes feature non-GMO chlorella, tetraselmis, and seaweed, to showcase algae as a sustainable vegan ingredient that can improve the nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities of products. GreenCoLAB is a collaborative platform between research institutions and industry partners such as Centro de Ciências do Mar and the University of Aveiro, along with four Portuguese companies experienced in algae biotechnology. The non-profit aims to promote economic growth and innovation in the algae biotechnology sector by investing in larger-scale production and diversifying commercial algae-based products. According to GreenCoLab, …

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Continente introduces meat and cheese alternatives by The Vegetarian Butcher and Quevana

© Quevana
Products & Launches

Portuguese Retailer Continente Launches New Meat and Cheese Alternatives

Portuguese supermarket chain Continente has expanded its range of meat and cheese alternatives with products from The Vegetarian Butcher and Quevana. The retailer already offers various meat alternatives made by The Vegetarian Butcher, including burgers and nuggets. However, it has now introduced the brand’s soy-based minced meat alternative, which is high in protein and fibre and a good source of iron and vitamin B12. Continente is also now offering semi-cured plant-based cheeses made by Spanish company Quevana. The cheeses are made from just three base ingredients — cashews, salt, and yeast — and are produced through a fermentation process similar to traditional cheese production. They are available in four flavours — original, smoked, truffle, and garlic & olive oil. Quevana has previously found success in …

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MicroHarvest pilot plant opening

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Company News

MicroHarvest Opens Pilot Plant to Accelerate Journey Towards Commercialisation

Biotech company MicroHarvest has opened a pilot plant in Lisbon, Portugal, to produce samples of its single-cell protein made through microbial fermentation. In the space of six months, MicroHarvest has transformed a portion of its office space into the laboratory and plant, which was officially opened at an event on November 16. The opening was attended by the company’s partners and investors. The new pilot plant will allow MicroHarvest to test and hone its proprietary technology, accelerating the commercialisation process. The company hopes to have its first product on the market by early 2024, after forming a partnership with a contract manufacturer that will allow it to scale to 1 ton per day. “This pilot plant serves as tangible evidence of the scalability of our …

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CellAgri Portugal will host its inaugural international conference in Braga in September 2023.

© CellAgri Portugal
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

CellAgri Portugal to Hold First International Conference with Notable Industry Speakers in Braga

CellAgri Portugal, the Portuguese association for the development of cellular agriculture, is hosting its inaugural international conference on the 7th and 8th of September, 2023, in Braga, Portugal.  The program will provide scientific presentations, poster sessions, and round-table discussions to share knowledge and advance cellular agriculture in Portugal and worldwide. The event will gather experts to discuss the progress and challenges in developing novel products using cell ag technologies. Four leading industry experts will participate:  Isha Datar, executive director of the non-profit research institute New Harvest Mark Post, professor at Maastricht University, CSO of Mosa Meat and Qorium Vítor Espírito Santo, senior director of cellular agriculture at GOOD Meat Andrew Stout, entrepreneur in residence at Tufts University cell ag development labs CellAgri Portugal invites participants to present their work by submitting abstracts …

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tap air portugal vegan dish

© TAP

Tourism & Travel

TAP Air Expects its New Vegan Inflight Meals to Be Most Popular Request in 2023

TAP Air Portugal is introducing special meals on board. New vegan inflight meals, as well as vegetarian, dietary, halal, kosher, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, are now available on the airline’s cabin food offer in response to the growing demand for alternatives.  It is estimated that more than 90,000 special meals will be served on board TAP Air Portugal aircraft during 2023, and based on 2022 figures, vegan and vegetarian meals are expected to be the most popular options. Using the slogan, “trips for all tastes,” the company promises taste, freshness, and quality in its new range created to address passengers’ needs related to allergies, intolerances, food restrictions, and cultural and religious specificities.  Meatballs, soups, and Indian recipes The vegan offer includes dishes such as meatballs, …

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Heura lasagne Iberojet

Image courtesy Heura Foods
Tourism & Travel

Heura and Iberojet Collaborate to Bring Tutti Foods Vegan Lasagne to Onboard Menu

Heura and Iberojet, the Spanish / Portuguese charter airline, recently collaborated to add a 100% plant-based lasagne dish to its onboard menus. The vegan Bolognese lasagne, made with Heura‘s vegetable protein meat, fresh egg-free pasta sheets, cauliflower-based béchamel sauce and grated vegan cheese, has been available since January 9 on 40% of flights departing from Spain and Portugal. “Iberojet makes available to all passengers a 100% vegetable dish suitable for vegans, turning into a commodity an option which is usually offered as a premium category or special offer,” says Director of Customer Experience Juan José Salgueiro of Iberojet. This initiative has been possible thanks to the alliance between Tutti Food Group, a company specialized in the production of frozen ready meals, and Heura, the leading …

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Portuguese supermarket chain Continente launches vegan yogurt

© Continente
Products & Launches

Portuguese Supermarket Continente Expands Vegan Range With Dairy-Free Yogurts

Portuguese supermarket chain Continente has expanded its Powered by Plants brand with a selection of vegan yogurts. Called Vegegurtes, the range contains both almond and coconut-based options. The almond yogurts are available in the varieties Natural, Red Fruits, and Peach Passionfruit, while the coconut yogurts come in the flavours Natural, Strawberry, and Mango Passion Fruit. The range is made in Portugal and available at Continente stores across the country. The yogurts are all fortified with calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, and have been certified vegan by the internationally recognised V-Label. Continente also offers several varieties of plant-based yogurt made by brands such as Alpro and Sojasun. Additionally, the chain’s Powered by Plants range features a selection of meat alternatives, including burgers, nuggets, and meatballs. …

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Burger-King-Portugal-Vegan

© Burger King Portugal
Fast Food

Burger King Portugal Trials 100% Vegan Restaurant in Lisbon

For a month, Burger King Portugal‘s restaurant at Rua de Belém in Lisbon turns vegan. The 400 to 500 customers who visit this Burger King daily will only be able to eat animal-free food. This will be the fast chain’s first 100% vegan restaurant in the Iberian peninsula, offering customers vegan versions of classics such as the Whopper, Big King, and Long Chicken, created in partnership with The Vegetarian Butcher. Everything vegan In the month-long pop-up, which aims to test consumer preferences, not only the burgers are animal-free. All the menu items were adapted to the vegan concept. “We have eliminated all animal products from our kitchen to ensure food safety,” assures Jorge Carvalho, general manager of BK Spain & Portugal. The cheese and bacon …

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Veganario Fest

© Veganario Fest
Fairs & Events

Lisbon’s Biggest Vegan Festival ‘Veganário Fest’ Returns This Weekend

Veganario Fest, one of the biggest vegan festivals in Portugal, will take place this weekend of the 1st and 2nd of October at the ISEL camp. The purpose of the festival is to introduce the public to vegan products currently available on the market, including food, hygiene, clothing, footwear and books, among others. In addition, within this event there will also be an information portal with a conference format dealing with issues of ecology and sustainability, health and nutrition, sport, childhood, and animal rights. The festival also includes educational spaces for children, workshops and concerts for different age groups. This event is characterised by the voluntary work of citizens committed to the environment and animals; the exclusive marketing of products and alternatives of plant origin; …

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McPlant Portugal

© McDonald's
Fast Food

McPlant Arrives in McDonald’s Portugal, Rolling Into 190 Locations Nationwide

As of 8th September, McDonald’s Portugal is now offering the McPlant, a plant-based burger exclusively developed in collaboration with Beyond Meat. The burger is now available at all of the country’s 190 restaurants. McDonalds partnered with Beyond Meat initially in 2020 to bring plant-based meat to its menu, signing a 3 year deal for the collaboration in 2021. The item rolled out into the UK and Ireland then trialled in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, and California before expanding into 600 locations across the US in early 2022. This year the McPlant arrived in Australia and saw success in Ireland, where McDonald’s has said it is “delighted” with its sales performance. “Long-awaited” Sérgio Leal, marketing and communications director of McDonald’s Portugal, commented: “The arrival of McPlant in …

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shoes made from upcycled coffee grounds

©Zéta
Leather Alternatives

Coffee Leather: Nespresso and Zèta Create ‘Re:Ground’ Sneakers From Upcycled Grounds

Zero-waste leather manufacturer Zèta has partnered with Nespresso, an operating unit of the Nestlé Group, to create a sneaker collection made from upcycled coffee grounds. Founded in September 2020, the zero-waste fashion startup from Portugal started off as a footwear producer focused on sneakers made from recycled paper and organic grape waste. After receiving a message on LinkedIn in January 2021 from Nespresso CEO Guillaume Le Cunff, asking “What about coffee?”, Babin realised that there was no coffee leather commercially available on the market and was inspired to innovate a new coffee material that could be transformed into sneakers. Re:Ground Re:Ground, a limited-edition line of coffee sneakers by Zèta constructed from 80% recycled and repurposed materials, was inspired by the ideas of zero-waste, eco-design, and …

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Portugal's first vegan egg

Image: @maylaarauj0 on Instagram
Egg Alternatives

Plantalicious Develops “Portugal’s First Vegan Egg”

A project called Plantalicious at the Centre for Food Education and Research (CFER) has created what it claims is Portugal’s first vegan egg. Plantalicious was founded by researcher Mayla Araújo and CFER CEO Daniel Abegão. The project’s liquid egg substitute was developed after five years of research, with the aim of catering to Portugese vegans and those with egg allergies. Made from soy, the plant-based egg provides a more sustainable alternative to poultry eggs, taking significantly less water to produce. Additionally, it is a healthier option for those with heart issues as it is free of cholesterol. Plantalicious’ egg is not yet on the market, but the founders say it is set to launch soon. The project has attracted interest from as far afield as …

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© NAE Vegan Shoes
Shoes

NAE Vegan Shoes Launches Upcycled Apple Leather Collection

Portugese brand NAE Vegan Shoes has launched a new summer shoe collection called SS22. The sustainable shoes are made from apple leather, which uses upcycled waste from the Italian juice industry. Thousands of tons of cores and peels are produced by the industry every year, sending a huge amount of waste to landfill and generating high management costs for companies. But these discards can be recovered and converted into a powder, which can be used as a substitute for oil derivatives such as PU to make a sustainable, durable, and waterproof vegan alternative to leather. NAE’s new SS22 collection features sustainable sandals made from this apple-derived leather alternative, manufactured locally in Portugal to ensure fair conditions for workers. Previous shoes by NAE have used other …

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burger king's be king vegetal burger

© Burger King Portugal
Gastronomy & Food Service

Burger King Launches Big King Vegetal in Portugal, Debuts “Meat?” Ad Campaign

Article updated Jan 2024: Following the launch and success of the Big King Vegetal, Burger King Portugal trialed a 100% vegan pop-up location in Lisbon for an entire month. It’s unclear how the public reacted to the pop-up location, as there have been no further details, but it is clear that plant-based burgers are still incredibly popular in Portugal. Not only has Burger King continued sales of the Big King Vegetal, but the chain has also added the Big King XXL Vegetal, which it serves alongside a ‘whopping’ 18 other plant-based burger options.  Burger King Portugal has launched a new meat-free option, the Big King Vegetal. It is the fourth plant-based menu item the fast-food chain has introduced in the country. The new burger consists …

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leather-sustainable

The Weekend bag by ©Frida Rome available at www.ImmaculateVegan.com  
Leather Alternatives

Portugal Bans ‘Vegan Leather’, Industry Insiders Speak Out

A ban on the term ‘vegan leather’ and other plant-based prefixes has been announced in Portugal. Alt leather companies now using prefixes such as ‘vegan’, ‘plant-based’, or ‘pineapple’ or even “synthetic” along with the word “leather” in their product marketing may face fines and criminal proceedings.  Portugal has a thriving fashion and textiles industry, with companies like B_Boheme producing sustainable shoes from vegan leather in the country. Founder Alicia Lai told vegconomist; “We have all heard the terms ‘vegan sausage’, ‘vegan chocolate’ and ‘vegan leather’. These terms are not aiming to mislead consumers but to show that there are no animal ingredients in the product, and these terms are very much accepted”. The new laws claim that terms such as ‘vegan leather’ are technically incorrect …

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