Plant-based protein: Latest fad or long-term trend?

Assessing the growing popularity of meat-free alternatives

Global investors are showing increasing interest in alternative protein sources, such as plant-based options and lab-grown meat.

The explosive IPO of Beyond Meat in May is a clear indicator of investor excitement around alternative proteins, although the company's subsequent drop in share price could point towards plant-based 'meat' as simply a marketing fad rather than a real investment trend.  Fuelling the uptake in alternative proteins is a rapid shift in our dietary habits, and it is not just the rise of veganism and vegetarianism, but also those who want to cut down on their meat intake, otherwise known as flexitarians. It is the latter group that are the real drivers of market demand for plant-based substitu...