Interview with Georges Achkar Salame: Progressive Abolitionist and Founder of Al Nahda
Georges Achkar Salame is a progressive, abolitionist Lebanese vegan activist and the founder of Al Nahda political movement. His activism began with a deep ethical awakening that led him to speak out across multiple platforms, from social media and TV programs to street demonstrations and podcasts. Through Al Nahda, a movement focused on human rights, animal liberation, and nature preservation, Georges has worked to embed these values into politics, linking Lebanon’s movement with international networks
Animetrics Research on Türkiye: What Muslim Consumers Know (and Don’t Know) About Animal Welfare in Halal Food Production
Halal food systems are central to Muslim life in Türkiye, shaping consumer trust, identity, and everyday choices. Certification is widely recognized, yet many consumers misunderstand how halal relates to the treatment of farmed animals. Animetrics’ 2026 study, “I Thought That Wasn’t Halal!”, explores these perceptions in depth. The research uncovers widespread misconceptions, limited awareness of industrial farming practices, and opportunities to align halal with compassion and humane treatment.
International Falafel Day: How a Middle Eastern Classic Became a Global Staple
Falafel’s journey is remarkable. Originating in the Middle East, this deep‑fried chickpea fritter was once a modest street food, sold from carts and small shops. Today, it has become a global symbol of plant‑based eating, appearing in fast‑casual chains, supermarket freezers, and home kitchens worldwide. International Falafel Day, observed every June 12, highlights how a dish rooted in tradition has become a universal favorite.
Turkey’s Lentil Protein Concentrate Market: Meeting the Rising Demand for Plant‑Based Protein Alternatives
Across the Middle East and globally, demand for plant‑based protein alternatives is accelerating. Health‑conscious consumers, shifting dietary preferences, and sustainability concerns are driving this transformation. Turkey, already a major producer of lentils, is now at the forefront of this movement by developing lentil protein concentrate, an ingredient that directly responds to the growing appetite for clean, plant‑based nutrition. According to the IndexBox report on Turkey’s lentil protein concentrate market, this sector is showing strong growth potential and is increasingly relevant to both domestic and international food systems.
Animetrics Research on Türkiye: Motivations and Barriers Toward Plant‑Forward Diets
In 2026, Animetrics published its Türkiye Profile study, surveying 2,499 adults across the country to explore how consumers perceive plant‑forward diets, what motivates them to reduce animal consumption, and what barriers stand in the way. The report situates Türkiye within global debates on industrial animal agriculture, emphasizing how health, affordability, and cultural identity shape dietary choices. While meat continues to hold a central place in tradition and social identity, the study reveals a growing curiosity about plant‑based eating, particularly among younger and urban populations who are exposed to global food trends and sustainability narratives.
Lactose Intolerance and Dairy Alternatives in the Middle East: Market and Medical Perspectives
Lactose intolerance is one of the most prevalent food sensitivities in the Middle East, with recent peer‑reviewed studies in Saudi Arabia confirming prevalence rates ranging from 7% to over 45% depending on diagnostic methods. A cross‑sectional study in Riyadh found that nearly half of participants tested positive for lactose intolerance, highlighting the widespread nature of the condition. This medical evidence provides a clear explanation for the rapid expansion of lactose‑free and plant‑based dairy alternatives across the region. The IndexBox report on the Middle East food intolerance products market further demonstrates how this health reality has translated into consumer demand, with dairy alternatives now representing the largest segment of intolerance‑related products.
Research by Animetrics on Kuwait: Protecting Farm Animals and Changing Consumer Attitudes
In 2026, Animetrics published its Kuwait study as part of a regional project exploring food systems and farmed animal welfare in Muslim‑majority societies. The Kuwait report provides insight into how cultural traditions, religious values, and modern consumer attitudes shape the country’s relationship with animals and food. Meat remains a central feature of Kuwaiti identity, symbolizing generosity, hospitality, and social belonging, especially during religious and family occasions. At the same time, the research shows that many consumers, particularly younger and urban respondents, are increasingly open to plant‑based diets and alternative proteins, viewing them as healthy and aligned with global sustainability efforts.
Vegan Cat Food in the Middle East: A Quiet Market Finding Its Place
Across the Middle East, vegan cat food remains a small but emerging niche. The market is concentrated in the United Arab Emirates, which accounts for nearly half of regional sales, while Saudi Arabia is showing the fastest growth. Qatar also records high per‑capita demand. Although vegan cat food represents less than one percent of total pet food sales, annual growth rates of fifteen to twenty percent highlight its steady expansion.
How to Navigate Eid al‑Adha as a Vegan: Compassionate Ways to Honor Tradition
Eid al‑Adha is a time of profound spiritual meaning, family gatherings, and acts of charity. For many, it is a celebration rooted in tradition, but for vegans it can also be emotionally challenging because of the central role animal sacrifice plays in Eid. Yet it is possible to honor the spirit of Eid while staying true to values of compassion and mercy, while inspiring others by showing that celebration can be rooted in kindness as well as faith.
The Expansion of Plant‑Based Protein Beverages Across the Middle East: Market Outlook to 2035
The Middle East plant‑based protein beverages market is in an early high‑growth phase, with retail volumes projected to expand at a mid‑to‑high teens compound annual growth rate over the 2026–2035 period. This expansion is being driven by health‑conscious urban populations, rising disposable incomes, and a shift toward convenient, dairy‑free nutrition. According to the IndexBox report on the Middle East plant‑based protein beverages market, these trends highlight both the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Research by Animetrics on Qatar: Protecting Farmed Animals and Changing Consumer Attitudes
In 2026, Animetrics released its research on Qatar as part of a regional series examining food systems and animal welfare in Muslim‑majority societies. This study highlights how Qatar’s rapid development, cultural traditions, and global exposure are shaping consumer perspectives on food and the protection of farmed animals. By situating Qatar within the broader Gulf context, the research reveals both the persistence of hospitality rituals centered on meat and the growing openness among younger generations to plant‑based diets and welfare‑oriented practices.
Countdown to 2028: Australia’s Ban on Live Sheep Exports and the Middle East’s Dilemma
Australia’s landmark decision to legislate the end of live sheep exports by May 2028 marks one of the most significant animal welfare reforms in modern history. For decades, millions of sheep have been shipped across oceans in overcrowded vessels, enduring extreme heat and high mortality before facing slaughter abroad. The Middle East has been among the largest destinations for these shipments, with countries such as Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar continuing to import live animals. As the countdown to 2028 begins, the question is no longer whether this trade will end in Australia but how Middle Eastern markets will respond to a global shift away from live animal transport.
Pathways to Protecting Farmed Animals in the United Arab Emirates: Consumer Perspectives and Shifting Food Systems
In early 2026, Animetrics released its study on the United Arab Emirates as part of a regional series examining food systems in Muslim‑majority contexts. Building on Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, this project explores how affluence, rapid modernization, and religious traditions intersect in the Emirates to shape consumer attitudes toward food and animal welfare. The UAE’s position as a global hub of commerce and culture makes it a revealing case, where traditional practices remain central to identity while exposure to international trends and sustainability concerns is reshaping perspectives.
Almond Milk Rising: Market Momentum and Consumer Trends Across the Middle East
The almond milk market in the Middle East has expanded rapidly in recent years, reflecting both changing consumer preferences and broader lifestyle shifts. In 2026, the market is valued between USD 320 and 380 million, with forecasts projecting growth to USD 1.1–1.4 billion by 2035. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 12–14%, underscoring almond milk’s position as a leading product within the plant-based beverage category.
Animetrics Research Examines Türkiye’s Food System Amid Cultural Heritage and Modern Shifts
In early 2026, Animetrics finalized a series of projects exploring how cultural traditions, economic realities, and institutional frameworks shape food systems across Muslim‑majority societies. Covering Lebanon, the Gulf, and Türkiye, these studies provide a comparative lens on resilience and transformation in the region. In Türkiye, the research highlights how a rich culinary heritage, rapid urbanization, and shifting consumer demographics intersect to shape food choices
Meat, Masculinity, and Justification: Insights from Recent Studies in Turkey
A study published in BMC Psychology in 2025 validated Turkish versions of meat‑eating justification scales, showing how individuals rationalize consumption through frameworks such as the “4Ns” (Natural, Necessary, Normal, and Nice) and linking these rationalizations to attitudes like social dominance orientation, speciesism, and masculinity. Complementing this, research conducted at Istanbul University in 2019 examined how male athletes perceive meat as indispensable to performance, reflecting entrenched ideals of strength, dominance, and virility. Taken together, these studies reveal how meat is elevated not only through structured rationalizations but also through symbolic associations, exposing the persistence of norms that reinforce its status rather than questioning its necessity.
Animetrics Research Examines Saudi Arabia’s Food System Amid Tradition and Transformation
From January to March 2026, Animetrics published a set of finalized projects that investigate how cultural traditions, economic pressures, and institutional frameworks shape food systems across Muslim‑majority societies. Covering Lebanon, the Gulf, and Türkiye, these studies provide a regional lens on the shifting dynamics of consumption and resilience. In Saudi Arabia, the research highlights how rapid modernization, shifting demographics, and religious traditions intersect to shape food consumption.
Morocco’s Plant‑Based Milk Industry: Rising Against the Dairy Current
When Jaouda launched Nabatlé in 2025, it marked a turning point for Morocco: the country’s first locally made plant‑based milk brand. With oat, almond, and coconut varieties fortified with calcium and free from gluten, lactose, added sugars, and preservatives, Nabatlé quickly became a symbol of innovation and sustainability. Yet its rise comes at a time when Morocco is also expanding conventional dairy, most recently with a US$10.8 million milk plant investment in Kenitra, underscoring the challenge plant‑based alternatives face in a market still dominated by traditional production.
Will Saudi Arabia’s Single‑Cell Protein Innovation Reduce or Intensify Animal Suffering?
Saudi Arabia’s plan to build the world’s largest single‑cell protein (SCP) plant marks a significant moment in the evolution of global food systems. Developed in partnership with Denmark’s Unibio International, the facility will use methane to cultivate microbial protein at unprecedented scale. This raises a pressing ethical question: will such innovation reduce the suffering of animals by displacing fishmeal and soy, or will it reinforce the structures of factory farming by serving primarily as feed within the same intensive systems?
Animetrics Research Examines Lebanon’s Food System Amid Crisis and Cultural Traditions
Between January and March 2026, Animetrics released a series of finalized projects examining how cultural traditions, economic realities, and institutional structures shape food systems in Muslim‑majority contexts, covering Lebanon, the Gulf, and Türkiye. In Lebanon, the research captures a nation in crisis: economic collapse, currency devaluation, and the strain of hosting large refugee populations have reshaped everyday food choices.