Global Food Week 2025 Signals a New Era of Plant-Based and Alternative Protein Innovation in the Middle East
Global Food Week 2025 in Abu Dhabi marked more than a celebration of ideas. It became a launchpad for concrete action, positioning plant-based innovation and alternative proteins at the heart of the region’s food security strategy. Leaders emphasized that cultivated proteins, fermentation-based foods, and plant-rich diets are no longer distant concepts but urgent solutions for a Middle East facing climate stress, water scarcity, and shifting consumer expectations
Sustained Growth Ahead: Middle East's Alternative Protein Sector Driven by Consumer Demand and Food Tech Innovations
The rising interest in plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the Middle East, driven by growing health awareness and a wider range of product options, is expected to boost the alternative protein sector's growth in the coming years. Ayca Yumlu Karaozan, Regional Product Manager – Culinary & Alternative Proteins SAMEA at Givaudan, notes that the combined forces of consumer demand and technological innovation are likely to elevate the alternative protein sector to mainstream status across the region.