Plant Futures Collective

📢 Are you an early-stage alt-protein start-up looking to grow?   The ProVeg Incubator is looking for pioneering founders to apply for the 13th edition of their accelerator programme, starting in April 2025.   They're particularly keen to work with start-ups developing plant-based alternatives to seafood, fish, meat and eggs, with clear differentiation and a strong offering in the areas of functionality, sensory profile, nutrition, or sustainability.   The ProVeg Incubator is the world’s first and leading programme designed specifically for alt-protein start-ups developing game-changing products, ingredients and technologies that remove animals from the food system.   What you get: 🚀 5-month accelerator programme 👨🏫 Expert mentoring and a personal business advisor 💰 Funding up to €300,000, including €75,000 in-kind services 🤝 Global network and 100+ alumni community 🏤 Facilities including the use of a co-working space, test kitchen, and event space in Berlin.   Since starting out in 2018, they’ve supported well over 100 start-ups from around the world, including Remilk, Formo, Better Nature, vly, Infinite Roots, Haofood, omni pet food, Kern Tec, and Hooked Foods, to name just a few.    Sound like the right fit for you? Apply now at https://hubs.ly/Q02WqHKn0  (application deadline 15th Jan 2025)

Exciting News! UK’s National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) launches on 29th November! NAPIC is a £38 million initiative to develop sustainable, planet-friendly protein alternatives. Led by the University of Leeds, with co-leads from the The James Hutton Institute, The University of Sheffield, and Imperial College London, it’s supported by £15 million funding from UKRI BBSRC NetZeroPlus Demonstrator and Innovate UK. Join Indy Kaur at 12:15 pm for the “NAPIC and Open Innovation in Alternative Protein” panel, hosted by Seren Kell of the The Good Food Institute. Hear insights from experts across academia, industry, regulation, and funding: • Louise Dye – PEOPLE Pillar, National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) • Derek Stewart – PRODUCE Pillar, National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) • Tom Jenkins, Innovate UK • Rick Mumford, Food Standards Agency Can’t attend? Key takeaways will be shared next week. Let’s innovate for a sustainable future in #AltProtein! 🌱 Plant Futures Collective 

We are delighted to be participating in Food Matters Live on 26-27 November in Manchester at Emirates Old Trafford. Be sure to catch Indy Kaur from 3:40 to 4:30 pm on the “Spotlight on Sustainable Nutrition” panel, where she’ll be joined by some incredible experts: Alex Johnstone from ROWETT RESEARCH INSTITUTE (THE) of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen Marjolijn Bragt, Programme Manager for Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research Emer L., Partner and Sustainability & Ethics Specialist, Health, Waitrose & Partners The panel will be diving into sustainable nutrition and the intersection with plant-based. We know there’s been a ton of progress in this area, but we’ve also seen some challenges, especially with recent pushback on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Growth in the sector has levelled off a bit too. So, the big questions they’ll be discussing are: Is the plant-based market over-hyped? And can new ingredients and technologies breathe fresh life (and nutrition!) into it? Learn more about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/gFPB9qW2 #PlantFuturesCollective #FoodMattersLive #PlantBased #PlantBasedInnovation #SustainableFood #Growth #Sustainability #Health

Exploring the Future of Dairy Alternatives at the Plant Based World Expo Europe We’re excited to participate in the upcoming Plant Based World Expo Europe on 14th November, a gathering of industry leaders dedicated to advancing sustainable and innovative food solutions. This event brings together voices from across the plant-based sector, offering a platform for insights on the growing impact of dairy alternatives on consumer choices and the food industry. Our panel session, "Dairy Disruptors – Exploring the Dairy-Free Revolution", will address some of the most pressing questions and trends in dairy alternatives, such as: ▪️ Nutritional benefits and allergen considerations ▪️ Balancing taste with health benefits ▪️ Meeting the shifting demands of today’s conscious consumers ▪️ Opportunities for brands in this dynamic space ▪️ Whether dairy-free needs its own iconic campaign moment, like “Got Milk?” Indy Kaur will be joined by industry leaders: ▪️ Mitch Lee 🧀 Lee, Head of Sales, La Fauxmagerie ▪️ Tim Knight, Head of Public Affairs, UK & Ireland, Oatly ▪️ Helen Hartley, Managing Director, Mummy Meegz ▪️ Ali Morpeth (RNutr), Director, Ali Morpeth Nutrition In a rapidly evolving food landscape, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. As demand grows for sustainable and healthy alternatives, the dairy-free sector holds exciting potential to reshape consumer habits and industry standards. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ev48qVAK Join us at the Expo for this inspiring discussion or stay tuned here for insights and highlights from the event! #DairyFree #PlantBasedWorldExpo #FoodInnovation #FutureOfFood #DairyAlternatives

Driving Plant-Based Innovation: Recipes for Future Success We’re excited to be part of the Plant Based World Expo Europe on 13th November at Excel London, where we’ll dive into the essential role of innovation funding in advancing plant-based solutions. This session, "Driving Plant-Based Innovation: Recipes for Future Success," will introduce Innovate UK and explore the impact of domestic and international investments in this rapidly growing sector. This insightful session will showcase ground-breaking projects from companies supported by Innovate UK, sharing how public and private funding has fuelled their journeys to developing new products. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these partnerships are propelling innovation and transforming the plant-based landscape. The session will conclude with a forward-looking panel discussion covering key trends and emerging priorities for the plant-based industry and future strategies to meet evolving global market demands and consumer expectations. Hear from: Tom Jenkins, Deputy Director, Innovate UK Myriam Pacho, Innovation Lead, Innovate UK Richard Fox, Founder, Jampas Nick Wood, COO, Adamo Foods Adam Thorpe, CEO, STARS UK R&D James Street, Director of Business Development, Protein Industries Canada Industries Anwesha Sarkar, Professor of Colloids and Surfaces, University of Leeds Join us at 13:45 – 14:30 at the Pulse Theatre to learn how Innovate UK can help drive your plant-based innovation forward and support your path toward success. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leaders, discover funding avenues, and explore the future of plant-based advancements. #PlantBasedInnovation #PBWE #InnovateUK #SustainableFood #FutureOfFood #PlantFuturesCollective

We’re teaming up with M&C Saatchi UK at London ExCel on Wednesday, 13th November, from 10:30am to 11:15am, to share insights from an unprecedented campaign to elevate the entire plant-based category. This collaborative initiative brings together over 30 leading plant-based brands in the UK to promote Meat-Free Mondays, with growing support across international markets. Here’s what to expect from the presentation: 🌍 Unified Campaign for Growth: A coordinated effort across brands to raise awareness and drive consumer adoption of plant-based foods and diets. 📈 Collective Marketing Strategy: How unified messaging and coordinated actions can created a larger impact on plant-based eating globally. 🌱 Consumer Adoption: Find out how this movement aims to make plant-based diets more accessible and mainstream, empowering more people to make sustainable choices. Get Involved: Discover how you can contribute to this inspiring movement aimed at making plant-based diets more accessible and popular worldwide. If you're attending the expo, don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of plant-based living and see how collective action is shaping the industry. Free to attend, register here https://lnkd.in/eSKP5bSB Indy Kaur Tom Firth #FutureOfFood #PlantBased #Innovation #Insights #GrowthStrategy #PlantFuturesCollective #PBWE #MeatFreeMonday

We are thrilled to announce that Indy Kaur and Marlana Malerich will be attending the exclusive roundtable event, "Breaking Barriers: Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Farm Transitions Beyond Animal Agriculture," hosted by the European Farm Transition Network (EFTN) in Berlin this Friday, 8th November.   This event will bring together key stakeholders from plant-based food production, transition research, and government policy for a full day of high-level discussions. The program features engaging speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and delicious plant-based breakfast and lunch options, along with ample networking opportunities.   The European Farm Transition Network is dedicated to facilitating the shift away from animal agriculture by creating alternative opportunities for farmers throughout the entire value chain   This initiative aims to connect farmers and farmer organizations with businesses, policymakers, and research institutions to accelerate a just transition in our food system.   Mission: To future-proof farmers during the agricultural transition by fostering business, policy, and networking opportunities.   Vision: A world where farmers are central to a sustainable, resilient, and fair food system. Kerri Waters, Patricia Sundstrom, Silvère Dumazel, ProVeg Incubator, University of Sussex Business School #PlantBased #Sustainability #Health #Collaboration #PlantFuturesCollective

As part of our venue trawl recently, we caught up with Greg Rosser, Operations Director at Club Mexicana in Shoreditch. We couldn’t resist the offer of staying for lunch and were blown away by the food. From their Speedy Lunch menu, we loved the Classic Nachos with its delicious vegan cheese. It was more like a sauce than a stretchy like-for-like cheese, proving that vegan cheese can taste good. It oozed out temptingly from within the tasty tortilla chips, complementing the dish perfectly. The pickles, with their unique crunch and touch of spice, gave it the final punch of flavour you’d expect and provided the perfect pop of colour that made the plate look so appealing! We then tried the “Fish” Cake Tacos.  The panko crumb was so light and crispy and we mmm’d and ahhh’d when we bit into it and discovered the soft mix of the banana blossom and nori, which were perfectly balanced with the smoky, spicy chipotle mayo and the crispness of the apple and fennel slaw. They just melted in our mouths! Then it was time for the BBQ Short “Rib” Tacos. The "ribs" were beautifully flavoured with the sticky glaze and tangy BBQ sauce and worked perfectly with the crunch of the slaw and bite of the pickled jalapenos and tasty garlic mayo. It set our taste buds alight! We were so disappointed to come to the end of our meal but were all smiles again when the dessert arrived. The light but crunchy churros were smothered in cinnamon sugar and dripping with a mouth-watering, smooth, dark chocolate sauce. The perfect end to the perfect lunch! The taste and the flavours of all of these delicacies were so delicious, that we actually stopped talking because we were too busy eating! Unheard of!! Club Mexicana was started 10 years ago by founder Meriel Armitage when she set out to smash preconceptions that vegan food was all lettuce and lentils by making awesome, great-tasting food - that just happens to be vegan. Innovation and independence have always been at their core and they’re proud to say that they have been at the forefront of the street food revolution in London ever since. It is clear from the food we experienced at their Shoreditch restaurant that the street food vibe is still very evident both on their menus and in the furnishings and décor that surrounded us. The exposed brickwork and pipes, metal trays and wooden chairs, all contribute to a basic, yet welcoming ambience that we felt from the minute we arrived. Club Mexicana continue to share their love of street-food within the office environment too, where they offer event catering. They love nothing more than to be able to let their guests see how the food is made and have the ability to bring a culinary theatre experience to excite and inspire any meeting! For us, this was a truly memorable lunch that we are still talking about and cannot wait to re-visit. This is what good food is all about! Indy Kaur, Michelle (Smith) Russell #ClubMexicana #PlantBased #PlantFuturesCollective

Last week saw the 4th Plant Futures Collective, Building The Roadmap Workshop take place at the fabulous allplants | B Corp™ venue.   This time, we focused on the dairy alts sector. Over 30 businesses came together to discuss the issues facing the growth of this area.    From the fascinating panel discussions to the creative brainstorming sessions, the energy throughout the day was amazing with collaboration being on the top of everyone’s agenda. It was brilliant to see how in-tune and passionate everybody was, and we are now excited to see how the outcomes feed into the overall roadmap to build the sector as a whole.   As always, the menu created by the fabulous allplants | B Corp™ team was delicious and tasty, with many going back for cheeky seconds!   The day wrapped up with a great networking session, where everyone grabbed a drink and had the opportunity to sample some of the delicious samples on offer. Oatly, Framptons Limited, Zertus UK & Ireland, Mummy Meegz, Honestly Tasty, Palace Culture La Fauxmagerie   We were thrilled with the success of yet another workshop, which will continue to build the very important roadmap we started back in February.   Indy Kaur, Michelle (Smith) Russell, Simon Day, Fay Hasnip 🌱, Claire Roper Hana Maghdoori Saffron Vaughan Perrett and thank you to Tom Firth, Michael Lee, Emma Perrett, Alan Black for the great panel discussion. #DairyAlternatives #PlantBased #Sustainability #Health #Collaboration #Growth #PlantFuturesCollective  

This Friday, we will host the fourth of our Building The Roadmap workshops, focusing on dairy alternatives, and we’re excited to announce our line-up of participants! With such incredible groups joining us, we anticipate a day filled with engaging discussions, creative brainstorming, collaboration, and collective action, all aimed at driving category growth in the plant-based sector. In the first three workshops, we tackled plant proteins and wholefoods & veg-led categories, addressing challenges around consumer adoption, regulatory hurdles, investment gaps, insights, and more. This collaboration has sparked a new campaign idea to drive growth across the plant-based space with M&C Saatchi UK and HarrisX - a Stagwell Inc. company, and we’re eager to explore the same for dairy alternatives. As we open the conversation on dairy-alts, we can’t wait to see what insights emerge and where collective action will lead this category next! Indy Kaur, Michelle (Smith) Russell, Elena Devis 🌱, Kymberle Zielinski, Gill Hayes, Simon Day, Mitch Lee 🧀, Fay Hasnip 🌱, Claire Roper, Lucy Squires,✌️🌱 Jonathan Petrides, Andrew Godley, Marlana Malerich, Alex Wilman, Tom Firth #DairyAlternatives #PlantBased #Sustainability #Health #Collaboration #Growth #PlantFuturesCollective