For the past week or so, at least until Uber devoured the headlines, the market was buzzing about Beyond Meat, the US company famed for its plant-based burgers.
Having sunk their teeth into its IPO from day one - May 2 - ravenous investors watched the company’s stock sizzle to a positively succulent 148 per cent up by the end of last week.
Beyond Meat has fascinated the market for several reasons. After overcoming pea-protein supply issues, the company has set about convincing meat eaters that a viable non-carnivorous option exists. In creating a product that waves goodbye to the dry, limp, tasteless veggie burgers of yesteryear, they have also convinced retailers and restaurants that theirs is an idea worth chewing over.
For the US, the world’s largest beef producer as well as consumer, this is a big deal. America is, after all, the land of cowboys, not to mention chains like McDonald's, Burger King and Arby’s, whose advertising loudly proclaims: “We have the meats!”
“We have the non-meat alternative!” might not roll off the tongue, but the idea of mainstream America embracing a vegan option is certainly intriguing.
The UAE is no stranger to meat-free burgers. Back in February, plant-based meat substitutes were firmly on the menu at the UAE’s Gulfood exhibition, while Applebee’s in Dubai has started serving plant-based burgers manufactured by Moving Mountains Burger.
Good nutrition is part of this story. One recent US Department of Health & Human Services study showed that, compared to people eating diets rich in white meat such as fish and poultry or plant-based protein, those with diets rich in red meat such as beef and mutton had triple the levels of chemicals linked to heart disease.
Personally, I’m willing to overlook the health benefits and tuck into the occasional juicy beef burger, but there are other considerations with longer-term significance.
The UAE imports 90 per cent of its food produce, including live animals and meat. A report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) found that, on average, UAE residents each consumed about 73.2kg of meat per year, ranking them among the highest consumers of meat worldwide. It also predicts that meat consumption could increase by up to 70 per cent by 2050.
The UAE also has the highest per capita water consumption of any country in the world. According to the Water Footprint Network, if a UAE resident avoided meat for just two days a week, it would save the equivalent of their annual water usage.
Meat production is inherently inefficient. Producing 1,500 calories worth of meat, or about 1kg, creates around 46kg of CO2 emissions. Apply that same formula to producing rice, and you will create 54,000 calories worth of the stuff. That's enough to feed 27 adults for a day; a kilogram of meat will barely feed one.
Consider instead the numbers that Beyond Meat’s rival, Impossible Burger, posits for its patties: it claims one of its burgers requires 95 per cent less land and 14 per cent less water than a beef burger, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 87 per cent.
Those numbers relate to another pressing UAE issue: the country is heavily reliant on a handful of nations, one of which is Brazil, for animal-based products. Brazil has a keen eye on the Arabian Gulf region and has been working with the Dubai-based International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) to unify halal certifications. According to Fambras Halal, Brazilian halal food exports grew by around 10 per cent last year, rising to almost $5 billion.
Good news for carnivores, perhaps; but the rate at which Brazil's forests are disappearing is profoundly alarming. Among the main culprits of deforestation is, of course, cattle farming.
According to Global Forest Watch, from 2001 to 2017, Brazil lost 50.9 million hectares of tree cover, equivalent to a 9.8 per cent decrease since 2000 and 4.21Gt of CO₂ of emissions.
The UAE is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. By deepening its dependency on meat imports from Brazil, it may be contributing to one of its own most pressing problems.
The UAE famously has a Minister of State of Food Security, and Mariam Al Mehairi has helped the country carve out a deserved reputation for agricultural innovation. She has been warning of the need to develop strategies for a sustainable future and to bring issues such as climate change to the fore.
Eye-catching projects in the UAE are making real progress in sustainable agriculture. The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority’s Protected Agriculture Project, which uses UV-ray treated recycled water and an inbuilt cooling system to grow plants without contributing to climate change, is one. There are now as many as 1,000 UAE farms operating hydroponic greenhouses. The sector is vibrant.
In this context, the enthusiasm around Beyond Meat’s IPO may point to a mouth-watering opportunity. Whereas the idea of the UAE becoming self-sufficient in rearing livestock might be rather far-fetched, the idea of its agricultural innovation placing it at the vegan vanguard is less so.
By growing burgers in its own backyard, perhaps the UAE could become a meat-alternative production hub – and help tackle one of its meatiest challenges in the process.
First Move with Julia Chatterley airs Monday-Friday at 6pm on CNN International
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')
Morecambe 0
The%20specs
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more from Janine di Giovanni
MANDOOB
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20LEAGUE%202
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)