As the new year gets underway, we’re balancing momentum with reflection – and this week delivers a bit of both.
We begin with a sobering reminder of how fragile this sector can still be. One of the most closely watched cultivated meat players saw its collapse deepen as legal proceedings moved forward, freezing claims and reshaping what happens next for creditors, staff, and the wider ecosystem.
From fallout to frameworks, attention then turns east. A major food-tech market edged closer to formal rules for cultivated foods, publishing draft safety guidelines that hint at how future approvals might work - and what developers will need to demonstrate to get there.
Scientific progress, meanwhile, continued quietly but meaningfully. New peer-reviewed research showed improved digestibility in cell-cultivated meat proteins, adding fresh data to a debate that increasingly hinges on nutritional performance as much as technical feasibility.
Zooming out, we explored why mycoprotein is entering 2026 with confidence rather than hype. With scale-up lessons learned and applications broadening, fungi-based proteins appear to be settling into a more mature, commercially grounded phase.
Back on shelf, whole-food plant-based took another step into the mainstream. A premium, minimally processed burger expanded its UK retail footprint, signaling continued interest in cleaner labels and deeper umami – but will that be enough to reignite growth?
That question sits at the heart of a broader reflection on 2025 itself. After a year of correction across plant-based food, the focus is shifting from expansion at all costs to consequences – for brands, investors, and product strategy alike.
Finally, a global lens. A new international report mapped how veganism is understood, practiced, and commercialized across regions, revealing sharp contrasts between values, diets, and market realities. One movement, many meanings.
As ever, plenty to unpack. Let’s get into it.
Enjoy reading, and as always, let us know which developments you think will have the biggest impact next.
