100 per cent plant-based meat factory has opened in Dubai; will provide sustainable and healthy local plant-based meat products

The first 100 per cent plant-based meat factory in the region, operated by the IFFCO Group,  has opened in Dubai. It is located in the Dubai Industrial City. The factory will catalyse the move towards a more sustainable and healthy food chain in the Middle East, actively supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE's Vision 2051 initiative to bolster food security through diversity and innovation.

The factory will provide nourishing, sustainable and healthy local plant-based meat products inspired by the unique flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine.

The global plant-based meat market was estimated to be worth $7.9 billion in 2022, and is forecast to reach $15.7 billion by 2027, according to a report from ResearchAndMarkets.com.

The newly opened THRYVE factory will cater to 30 per cent of the GCC population, stimulating the development of the market for local plant-based products. As per proprietary research, the GCC has the potential to be a future leader in developing food products for flexitarians, people whose diet is primarily vegetarian.

The THRYVE plant-based venture, developed using cutting-edge food technology, contributes to at least three UN's SDG's: good health and well-being, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, “The new 100 per cent plant-based meat factory supports the UAE’s Food Security Strategy and our mandate to mitigate the impact of climate change. The opening of this innovative new facility also supports our efforts to protect the country’s ecosystems and enhance its food and water security and diversify our food sources. By fostering such robust research and development focused on producing innovative food products, we seek to raise the UAE’s ability to move up the global food industry value chain and achieve first place on the Global Food Security Index by 2051. The new factory represents a significant contribution to sustainability in the food supply chain.”

The factory will leverage advanced food technologies to produce tasty, healthy, sustainable and culturally relevant food that meets the needs of the local consumer.