A Call from Abu Dhabi: Global Alignment for Alternative Proteins
In her op-ed for The National, Fatima Al Dhaheri, head of the AgriFood Growth and Abundance cluster at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, confronts a critical impasse in the evolution of food systems. Alternative proteins—plant-based, cultivated, and precision-fermented—offer sustainable solutions to a world choked by climate breakdown and agricultural instability. Yet, instead of accelerating their integration, global regulators have created an obstacle course of inconsistent approvals, high compliance costs, and fragmented market access.
Systemic Blockades, Ethical Costs
Imagine a protein source that minimizes land use, lowers emissions, and spares animals from industrial exploitation—and then imagine it buried beneath bureaucratic delays. For companies trying to scale up, navigate cross-border regulations, and bring ethical products to market, the system punishes innovation and slows mercy itself.
Blueprints for Harmonised Reform
Al Dhaheri proposes more than critique—she sketches an actionable path forward. Inspired by the International Council for Harmonisation in the pharmaceutical world, she advocates for portable safety assessments, standardised labelling, and cross-jurisdictional acceptance of food testing. These changes would reduce redundancy and accelerate ethical impact.
Regulatory Delay Isn’t Neutra
Every stalled approval doesn’t just affect market timelines—it affects lives. The alternative protein movement is more than technological; it’s deeply ethical. Bureaucratic hesitation becomes a barrier not only to innovation but to compassion.
Abu Dhabi’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow It’s in this context that Fatima Al Dhaheri writes:
“Early adopters like Abu Dhabi will provide a global model of responsible, sustainable growth within these future-oriented industries.”
Her statement repositions Abu Dhabi as not merely a regional innovator, but as a global catalyst—a place where sustainability and foresight can build infrastructure that honors both progress and empathy.