Oceania

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Nonprofit organisation Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) announces the launch of a new cellular agriculture language guide.

© Cellular Agriculture Australia
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Cellular Agriculture Australia Launches New Language Guide to Standardise Terminology in the Industry

Nonprofit organisation Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) announces the launch of a new tool, Language Guide V1.0, developed to standardize and harmonise the terminology of the cellular agriculture industry. Using secondary research and input from sector leaders across the APAC region, CAA’s new Language Guide sets a unified terminology and key terms. At the same time, it provides optional communication guidelines for marketing and brand positioning strategies to help companies address language inconsistencies in their activities and product descriptions. Moreover, the CAA explains that a unified nomenclature is significant for the sector, the media, and consumers before approvals in the country. The cultivated meat company Vow is currently going through the first evaluations by food regulators in Australia. Additionally, other companies are also preparing to seek regulatory approval in …

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Beyond Stack Burger_spread

© Beyond Meat

Studies & Numbers

Study: Using More Attractive Names for Plant-Based Dishes Significantly Increases Orders

A new study, conducted by the University of Queensland and published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, has found that giving plant-based dishes more attractive names on restaurant menus could boost sales. According to the research, using adjectives to describe the flavor, texture, and provenance of plant-based meals increases their appeal. For example, descriptions such as “juicy American burger” and “tasty Italian vegetable lasagna” are more appealing than “vegan burger” or “vegetable lasagna”. This effect can be amplified by using blander names for meat-based options. Affordable intervention The study notes that most restaurants currently take the opposite approach, with plant-based dishes named in ways that portray them as healthy but bland and meat-based dishes made to sound tastier. This leads to a lack of …

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Harvest B launches at HealthyLive

© Harvest B
Retail & E-Commerce

Harvest B Launches Meat Alternatives at Woolworths-Owned Online Retailer HealthyLife

Australian alt protein producer Harvest B has expanded beyond B2B sales with a launch at Woolworths-owned online retailer HealthyLife.com.au. HealthyLife consumers can now purchase 330g packs of Harvest B’s shelf-stable plant-based proteins, with six products available; these include lamb, chicken, beef, and pork-style proteins, in diced and shredded varieties. Harvest B’s products are made in Australia from wheat grown in New South Wales. They are clean-label and high in protein and fibre, with no methylcellulose or artificial additives. Each pack produces up to a kilogram of plant-based protein when rehydrated with the supplied sachet of brine and natural spices. This is not the first time Harvest B has worked with Woolworths — the retailer’s investment arm led a $3.5 million seed funding round in Harvest …

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From L to R: Andrew Gray, Director at Co-Labs; Paul Bevan, founder and CEO of Magic Valley; and Samuel Wines, co-founder at Co-Labs

From L to R: Andrew Gray, Director at Co-Labs; Paul Bevan, founder and CEO of Magic Valley; and Samuel Wines, co-founder at Co-Labs © Magic Valley
Cultivated Meat

Magic Valley Partners with Co-Labs to Increase Production Capacity for Cultivated Meat

Australian cultivated meat company Magic Valley has announced that it will amplify its production by expanding its operations to an advanced pilot facility at Co-Labs, an innovation hub and co-working laboratory based in Melbourne. With this strategic decision, the company aims to increase its production capacity to 3,000-litre bioreactors, aiming to reach 150,000 kg of product annually. Additionally, according to the company, the new pilot facility will reinforce its dedication to sustainability by enhancing product innovation and efficiency. The news follows a collaboration with Biocellion SPC, a US software developer and computer modeling company, to drive advancements in bioreactor technology and scale the production of cultivated meat at lower costs. At the forefront of sustainability Magic Valley claims it has developed a scalable platform to grow any type of meat, including cultivated …

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Vitasoy Australia

© Vitasoy
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Vitasoy Australia Forecasts Highest Ever Annual Plant Milk Production

Alt milk company Vitasoy Australia is expecting its highest ever annual production volumes, as demand for dairy alternatives continues to grow in the country. According to ABC, the company will produce around 70 million litres of plant-based milk at its facility in Victoria this year, up sevenfold since the site began operations in 2002. Originally exclusively a soy milk producer, Vitasoy now offers a wide range of plant milks, including oat, almond, coconut, and rice. The company also launched a range of plant-based yogurts last year. For the past five years, almond milk has been Vitasoy Australia’s most popular variety of plant milk, but oat is poised to take over. Chief Executive David Tyack told ABC that the demand for oat milk had “gone absolutely …

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A photo of the Tastilux product.

Image courtesy of Nourish Ingredients
Company News

Nourish Ingredients Establishes Strategic Hub for Animal-Free Fat in Singapore

Australian precision fermentation company Nourish Ingredients has revealed plans to establish its operations in Singapore to accelerate the production of animal-free fats. Just a few weeks ago, the company debuted its new fat Tastilux in a plant-based chicken wing to showcase its capabilities in improving the taste and smell of alternative meats. Nourish Ingredients will produce its flagship ingredient at Nurasa’s Food Tech Innovation Centre (FTIC), which features labs and a shared pilot facility. Nurasa is part of the Singapore government-owned investment accelerator firm Temasek. The Australian food tech has also partnered with ScaleUp Bio, a local CDMO launched by Nurasa and ADM, to support and accelerate its fermentation capacity and to work with the regulatory body, the Singapore Food Authority. Singapore’s regulatory and legal support, its production capabilities, …

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Krispy Kreme Australia is celebrating World Vegan Day on November 1st with the launch of a vegan-friendly doughnut range.

Image courtesy of Krispy Kreme
Products & Launches

Krispy Kreme Australia Joins World Vegan Day with New Chocolate and Apple Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme Australia is celebrating World Vegan Day on November 1st with the launch of a vegan doughnut range and the permanent addition of one of the vegan treats to the brand’s lineup.  Crafted in two flavours — Fudge Brownie Bliss and Apple Custard Crumble — the new sweets are available at the same price as regular doughnuts at Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven locations nationwide and online at Krispy Kreme’s website.  Adam Jacka, marketing area lead at 7-Eleven Australia, said: “A growing number of our customers have a vegan or plant-based diet, so we are thrilled to be stocking the new Krispy Kreme vegan-friendly range.” “Incredible” flavours for all The new plant-based range will surprise and delight vegans and non-vegans alike, says the company, adding that the …

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CJ Cheiljedang Bibigo plant-based dumplings

© CJ Cheiljedang
Products & Launches

CJ Cheiljedang Launches New Plant-Based Dumplings in the UK, Australia & Singapore

South Korean food company CJ Cheiljedang has expanded its plant-based dumpling range, sold under the brand name Bibigo, with two new products. The steamed dumplings are available in the varieties Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with plant-based beef and vegetables) and Green Chili. They have initially been launched in the UK, Australia, and Singapore. CJ Cheiljedang already exports a range of dumplings and other plant-based products to around 30 countries worldwide, including Germany, India, and the US. However, the brand’s original dumplings are sold in pouches, whereas the new products come in a microwaveable tray for easier preparation. If the new format proves popular, it will be expanded to other export markets. CJ Cheiljedang launched its first plant-based products — including dumplings containing a meat alternative …

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sneakqik logo

© Sneakqik
Retail & E-Commerce

Australian Coupon Site SneakQIK.com Relaunches as a Vegan Deals Platform

Australian shopping deals website SneakQIK.com, owned by AdAvenue Media, has relaunched as a platform dedicated to vegan deals and discounts. The platform says that it helps shoppers in Australia to follow their favourite brands and stay updated on specials and offers within a personalized offer-feed and allows brands to target consumers based on their interests and preferences. The company states it wants to build a large, comprehensive database of vegan brands and retailers, with a main focus on ecommerce. SneakQIK is currently live in Australia, featuring a curated collection of top vegan and plant-based offers and coupons from various brands, including exclusive deals providing shoppers with unique opportunities to save. SneakQIK also has plans to develop a mobile app set to launch this year. Expansion …

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Nourish Ingredients has unveiled Tastilux, a new animal-free fat

Image courtesy of Nourish Ingredients
Ingredients

Nourish Ingredients Unveils New Animal-Free Fat in Plant-Based Chicken with Edible Bones

Australian food tech company Nourish Ingredients has unveiled Tastilux, a new animal-free fat that the company claims can address the challenges of taste, nutrition, and consumer adoption in the plant-based meat market. To demonstrate the potential of the new ingredient, the company’s head of culinary innovation crafted a realistic, plant-based chicken wing featuring edible calcium-based bones that was presented at the SXSW event in Sydney, Australia.  “Attendees can experience the authentic flavor, juicy texture, and enjoyment of chicken wings without involving animals,” said the company.  A “quantum leap” to deliciousness Developed with natural lipid molecules and scaled through precision fermentation, it took the company’s scientific team three years to develop a product capable of replacing conventional fats and oils without animal ingredients or artificial chemicals, explains Nourish Ingredients. Tastilux …

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vEEF and LOVE BUDS merge to become the Aussie Plant Based Co

© vEEF
Company News

vEEF Merges With LOVE BUDS to Form The Aussie Plant Based Co

Two Australian brands — Fenn Foods’ vEEF and All G Foods’ LOVE BUDS — have announced that they are merging to form a new company called The Aussie Plant Based Co. vEEF and LOVE BUDS are both leaders in the plant-based meat category, in retail and food service respectively. The strategic merger will grant The Aussie Plant Based Co access to 6,000 distribution points across Australia, along with a manufacturing hub on the Sunshine Coast. Demand for plant-based foods is growing rapidly in Australia; recent research found that 19% of Australians are eating a flexitarian diet, while 6% are vegetarian or vegan. The Aussie Plant Based Co hopes to cater to this demand and eventually expand into Asia and the Middle East. “Leading the Australian …

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Vegan meal kits cooked and served

© Just Add Vegan
Market & Trends

19% of Australians Embrace Flexitarian Diets, Taste Top Priority for Omnivores, Reveals New Study

The latest research by the polling institute YouGov shows that 19% of Australians consider themselves flexitarians, eating primarily plant-based foods and occasionally meat and fish. Additionally, across all the Australian states, the flexitarian diet was the most popular choice after a standard omnivorous diet.  The poll also shows that 6% of consumers have adopted a vegetarian or vegan diet, driven mainly by young consumers. Notably, this trend is significantly more prevalent in Victoria, where one in ten consumers have adopted a plant-based diet, according to the authors. The data also reveals that a lower percentage of Gen Z and Baby Boomers identified as flexitarians, with only 12%, compared to Millennials and Gen X, who were approximately 25%. Meanwhile, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to adopt an entirely vegetarian …

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MADE WITH LUVE (c) Prolupin GmbH

© Prolupin
Investments & Acquisitions

Wide Open Agriculture Acquires German Lupin Protein Producer Prolupin

Australian regenerative food and agriculture company Wide Open Agriculture (ASX: WOA) has acquired Germany’s leading sweet lupin protein producer, Prolupin, for €2.5 million. WOA has stated that the initiative aims to position the company as a global leader. The acquisition includes Prolupin’s manufacturing facility at Grimmen in northern Germany, providing WOA with commercial-scale manufacturing to introduce Buntine Protein, its flagship product, to the European market. According to WAO, the company has a growing pipeline of potential customers and it will be able to supply its lupin products within six months. The facility, which can produce 500 t of lupin protein concentrate, will be upgraded to 1,000 t within one or two years.  Jay Albany, CEO of WOA, said: “This acquisition grants us immediate commercial production capacity in …

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Switching cats and dogs to vegan diets has huge environmental benefits

Image supplied
Studies & Numbers

Switching Cats and Dogs to Vegan Diets Could Free Up Larger Land Areas Than Mexico & Germany Combined

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE has found that feeding cats and dogs a meatless diet has huge potential benefits for the environment. The research concluded that if all cats and dogs worldwide were exclusively fed vegan food, almost seven billion land-based livestock animals could be spared annually, along with billions of aquatic animals. Furthermore, feeding dogs a vegan diet could save an area of land larger than Mexico, while cats could save an area larger than Germany. The study also suggests that vegan diets for pets could lead to very large reductions in water use, greenhouse gas emissions, biocide use, and pollutants. The figures in the study are believed to be conservative, with the true impact likely to be even …

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Three bottles of animal-free milk

© Eden Brew
Fermentation

Australia’s Eden Brew Secures $24.4 Million for Animal-Free Dairy Expansion

Australian precision fermentation company Eden Brew has raised $24.4 million in a Series A round led by previous investor Main Sequence Ventures to introduce animal-free dairy in the alt protein market.  Eden Brew was established in 2021 through a partnership between Norco, a 100% Australian farmer-owned dairy cooperative, and Australian science agency CSIRO and its deep tech venture fund Main Sequence Ventures.  The company uses a precision fermentation process based on science know-how developed at CSIRO. The company claims its platform produces casein proteins that deliver the same nutrition, functionalites, sensory qualities and bioavailability as cow’s milk. In May 2022, Eden Brew also raised $6.9 million from Main Sequence and US investor Digitalis Venture. Other participants in the round include Breakthrough Victoria, Orkla, Digitalis Ventures, Possible …

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Flave's plant-based burger

© Flave
Studies & Numbers

32.2% of Australians Have Reduced Their Meat Consumption in the Past 12 Months

A study by Australia’s Griffith University has found that 32.2% of respondents have reduced their meat consumption over the past year. Health was the most commonly cited reason, amid rising concerns about the link between animal products and chronic disease. This was followed by environmental and animal welfare issues. However, a small percentage of respondents (3.3%) had actually increased their meat consumption. Most participants who had cut down on meat said they aimed to follow a plant-forward diet, but a minority (14.3%) said they were just trying new products and did not necessarily plan on a long-term diet change. Overall, findings indicated widespread interest in and openness to plant-based foods. Some respondents reported barriers to eating a plant-based diet, such as other household members not …

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unMEAT vegan luncheon meat

© UnMeat
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

unMEAT’s Vegan Luncheon Meat Launches in 960 Australian Woolworths Stores at Price Parity

unMEAT, an alt meat brand owned by Philippines-based seafood giant Century Pacific, is expanding into Australia with a rollout at the country’s largest supermarket chain, Woolworths. The brand’s shelf-stable vegan luncheon meat is now available at 960 Woolworths stores across the country, at price parity with conventional luncheon meat products. The meat alternative is also available from the Woolworths website. According to Century Pacific, one in three Australian consumers is consciously reducing their meat intake, meaning the company sees favorable prospects for the unMEAT brand in the country. “The thesis behind plant-based alternatives remains,” said Greg Banzon, executive vice president and COO of Century Pacific. “Consumers want healthier and more planet-forward food choices. As a food company, we need to address these needs through innovation …

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Australian meat lobby calls for alt meat labelling restrictions

© v2food
Politics & Law

Australia: Alt Meat Labelling Restrictions Delayed as Government Seeks Industry Views

In 2021, Australian Senator Susan McDonald — former owner of meat retailer Super Butcher — chaired an inquiry where she pushed for the introduction of alt meat labelling restrictions. The aim of the proposed laws was to prevent plant-based producers from using meat-like terms such as “beef” and “chicken”. The inquiry followed lobbying from the Australian Red Meat Advisory Council, which claimed that meat alternatives were using terms that misled consumers. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission sided with the plant-based industry, but despite this, the inquiry published results in 2022 recommending that labelling restrictions be introduced. Now, over 18 months later, the Australian meat industry has expressed frustration that the restrictions have not yet been made law. Cattle Australia interim CEO Adam Coffey told …

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Plant Forged Physique vegan weightlifting belts

© Plant Forged Physique
Materials

Australia’s Plant Forged Physique Launches Vegan Weightlifting Belts

Plant Forged Physique, an Australian brand offering vegan fitness gear, supplements, and apparel, has launched a new line of vegan weightlifting belts. According to the company, ethical weightlifting belts were previously almost impossible to find. Made from synthetic vegan leather and microsuede, the new belts provide powerlifters, bodybuilders, and gym-goers with core support during intensive strength training. The material is reportedly easier to clean and maintain than leather, while also being less prone to moisture damage. The belts are available in five colours — Forest Camo, Khaki, Pink, Sky Blue, and Snow Leopard. “Achieving goals without compromise” As more athletes adopt a vegan lifestyle, companies are increasingly offering ethical alternatives to sports gear and apparel that may traditionally be made with animal-derived materials. For example, …

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Mr. Charlie's Vegan Big Mac

©Mr. Charlie's
Fast Food

“Vegan McDonald’s” Mr. Charlie’s to Open First Australian Location

Mr. Charlie’s, the US fast food chain often referred to as the “vegan McDonald’s”, is expanding into Australia with a new location in Sydney. Based in the suburb of Redfern, the store has already been built and will open in the coming weeks. The location has been chosen partially due to its proximity to the Aboriginal Employment Strategy offices; Mr. Charlie’s plans to work with charities and brand partners to provide opportunities for indigenous communities. This echoes the chain’s practices in the US, where it has hired several homeless or formerly incarcerated staff members with the aim of “employing people so deserving of a second chance but overlooked by a broken system”. Employees are paid above the minimum wage. “More than a vegan burger joint” …

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