September Highlights from the plant-based and cultured-food sector: NGOs urge Egypt to serve plant-rich food at COP27

Over 50% of consumers across four EU countries have reduced their meat consumption, plus NGOs urge Egypt to serve plant-rich food at COP27. Meanwhile, a Canadian plant-based-cheese producer has won a legal battle to use the word ‘cheese’ on its packaging. Find all of this and more in this month’s plant-based and cultured-food highlights. 

TRENDS & PROJECTIONS 

• A new report by Future Market Insights found that the global plant-based-bacon sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6%.
• According to a survey commissioned by the GFI, over 50% of consumers from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain have reduced their meat consumption in the last five years. 
• A market report by Research and Markets predicts that the global plant-based-cheese sector will reach US$ 4.4 Billion by 2027.
• CEO of Thai brand More Foods claims that there has been a rise in demand for plant-based food among lower-income households across the nation.

RETAIL FOODS

• A visual presentation by ProVeg International looks at how to target flexitarian consumers using an ‘integrated-segregated’ approach on supermarket shelves.
• Austrian grocer Billa, has opened a completely plant-based supermarket in Vienna, with over 2500 products for sale.
• German retailer Rewe has launched a plant-based-meat counter at one of its branches, following a 45% increase in sales of its plant-based range. 

FOODSERVICE CHAINS/CATERERS 

• Global restaurant chain Pizza Hut has partnered with Beyond Meat to add plant-based options to its menus in Latin America and Asia. 
• Plant-based chicken brand Simulate is launching its plant-based chicken strips and cutlets into the US food-services sector. 
• Float Foods’ OnlyEg is coming to Singapore’s food-service industry, marking the first time a plant-based egg Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette ) is commercially available in Asia.
• Alternative-meat brand Redefine Meat has partnered with plant-based manufacturer MeEat to serve its plant-based-meat range in Finnish restaurants. 
• The Munich Oktoberfest is partnering with German alt-meat brand Greenforce and chef Sebastian Copien to offer plant-based options.

FOOD MANUFACTURERS

• International plant-based brand Wicked Kitchen has acquired plant-based-seafood brand Good Catch. 
• German dairy giant Deutsche Milchkontor has announced a new plant-based-cheese line called Velander.
• Plant-based meat company Impossible Foods has launched frozen meals in stores across the US. 
• UK cheese giant Cathedral City has launched its first plant-based-cheese product. 

INGREDIENTS SUPPLIERS/NEW TECHNOLOGIES

• Dutch health and nutrition company DSM has developed new ingredients that aim to improve plant-based-cheese products.  
• The Horizon Europe project SeaMark is bringing together 25 multidisciplinary partners in order to scale-up macroalgae cultivation and develop 12 seaweed-based products. 
• Cultured-seafood startup Forsea Foods is using its organoid technology to simplify the process of growing animal cells in bioreactors. Organoids are stem-cell-derived three-dimensional tissue structures.

ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR

• The GFI and FAlRR have launched a framework for alternative protein companies to gather data on their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) impacts. 
• The African precision-fermentation company De Novo Dairy has secured funding from UM6P Ventures, bringing it closer to releasing its first cultured-dairy product.

STARTUPS & FINANCIAL

• German-based bioengineering company The Cultivated B has secured a large seed-funding round and is planning to provide licenses and products to enable industrial scaling of cellular agriculture.
• Plant-based-meat company Planted has closed a £61m funding round and plans to further its international expansion.  
• US startup Zero Egg has announced its new frozen ready-to-use Scoopable Scramble will be available across the US through distributor DOT Foods.

STAKEHOLDER INTERVENTIONS

• ProVeg International and 50by40 have joined forces with 160 NGOs to encourage the Egyptian presidency to serve plant-rich food at COP27. 
• Joe Biden has signed an executive order to support biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation in the US, with plans to move toward cultured-food production. 
• The Israeli Government has declared that food tech and alternative proteins are now one of its five national priorities. 
• Canadian plant-based-cheese producer Rawesome has won a four-year-long legal battle over its right to use the word ‘cheese’ on its packaging. 

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