Author

Anay Mridul 3147 posts 0 comments

Anay is Green Queen's resident news reporter. Originally from India, he worked as a vegan food writer and editor in London, and is now travelling and reporting from across Asia. He's passionate about coffee, plant-based milk, cooking, eating, veganism, food tech, writing about all that, profiling people, and the Oxford comma.

Alt Dairy

Bel Group-Backed Standing Ovation Bags €3M from French Government & EU Fund for Animal-Free Casein

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

Fresh from raising €3M, Standing Ovation CEO Romain Chayot speaks to Green Queen about the startup's 2024 plans, its CASPEX project, and France's stance on factory farming. Founded in 2020, Bel Group-backed startup Standing Ovation,…
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Alt Protein

UC Davis Launches Alternative Protein Center to Advance Commercialisation

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

In collaboration with other institutions and government bodies, the University of California, Davis is launching an Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein to research and accelerate the commercialisation of alternative…
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Vegan Dining

Next Level Burger Acquires Veggie Grill to Become North America’s Largest Fast-Casual Vegan Chain

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

In one of the largest M&A deals in the US plant-based space, Next Level Burger has acquired fast-casual chain Veggie Grill. The move comes a year after the latter was saved from bankruptcy, and makes Next Level Burger the largest…
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Alt Protein

How Do Singapore’s Consumers & Experts Feel About Cultivated Meat?

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

Singapore is renowned for its position as an alternative protein leader – a new study reveals how members of the general public as well as scientific experts feel about cultured meat, and its effects on general health and society. Soon,…
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Animal Rights

No More Dog Meat: Big Animal Rights Win as South Korea Bans Sale in ‘Historic’ Decision

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

In a landmark decision, South Korea's parliament has banned the country's dog meat trade, after years of decline in consumption and an increase in pet adoption over the last few decades. It's a move hailed by youngsters and animal rights…
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Alt Protein

67% of Thai Consumers Want to Eat Less Meat and More Plant Proteins For Health

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

Two-thirds of Thailand's population wants to eat less meat over the next two years and replace it with plant-based alternatives, according to a new survey. Health and nutrition are the main motivators, while price and availability remain…
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Consumer Trends & Insights

What Do Indians Want From Vegan Food? New Survey Reveals Sector Challenges & Potential

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

The Good Food Institute (GFI) India has conducted a first-of-its-kind survey on consumer awareness, adoption and purchase behaviour for vegan meat and dairy in India. Here are 12 key takeaways. Two months after publishing its first…
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Alt Protein

From VFC to VFG: UK Alt-Meat Maker Rebrands with Aim to Become ‘Vegan Unilever’

Anay Mridul Jan 10, 2024

After a year of acquisitions and continued sales growth, VFC Foods has rebranded to the Vegan Food Group with the aim of becoming "a vegan Unilever", as it plans further deals and expects sales to hit £25M in 2024. UK plant-based meat…
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Vegan

MeliBio’s Vegan Honey Expands European Presence with Aldi Deal

Anay Mridul Jan 10, 2024

Shortly after launching into the UK, the vegan honey from MeliBio and Narayan Foods is widening its European footprint with the debut of its bee-free product in Aldi/Hofer stores in Switzerland and Austria. MeliBio's European launch is…
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Future Foods

Future Food Quick Bites: Bustling Britain, Super Basic Oat Milk & A Vegan Flag Carrier

Anay Mridul Jan 10, 2024

In our weekly column, we round up the latest news and developments in the alternative protein and sustainable food industry. This week, Future Food Quick Bites covers Oatly's first new US products in five years, Emirates' vegan push, and a…
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Future Foods

Future Food Quick Bites: Bean Burgers, Vegan Cheese Tours & No More Oatgurts

Anay Mridul Jan 3, 2024

In our weekly column, we round up the latest news and developments in the alternative protein and sustainable food industry. This week, Future Food Quick Bites covers Burger King's in-demand veggie burger, Armored Fresh's vegan cheese…
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Vegan

‘Farmed Animals Don’t Have Cheat Days’: Q&A with Cat White, Author of The Imperfect Vegan

Anay Mridul Jan 3, 2024

Should veganism be so binary? In her new book, The Imperfect Vegan, author and TedX speaker Cat White argues against that outlook. Speaking to Green Queen, she explains why we tend to associate absolutes with our diets, the need to do…
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Alt Protein

Vote for Veggies: Veganuary Deepens US Focus with a Chunk of New Launches for 2024

Anay Mridul Jan 2, 2024

In a bid to amp up its US reach, Veganuary USA is entering more partnerships with restaurants, retailers and brands to come up with new products and dishes this year. It's also launched a Vote for Veggies campaign, after commissioning a…
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Vegan

Netflix Series ‘You Are What You Eat’: Vegan Diet Benefits Includes Better Sex, Longer Life and a Healthier Heart

Anay Mridul Jan 2, 2024

Just months after a study of identical twins recording the effects of meat-eating and vegan diets, You Are What You Eat, the new Netflix documentary based on the research, highlights the impact of a plant-based lifestyle on health and…
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Alt Protein

Where to Study the Future of Food: The Best Alt Protein University Programs

Anay Mridul Jan 2, 2024

With the future of food intricately linked with the future of the planet, as well as the growing development of plant-based and cellular-agriculture-derived foods, some universities are offering courses solely focused on alternative…
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Climate Change

Citizen Planet: 10 Things to Do for the Climate in 2024

Anay Mridul Jan 1, 2024

If you're looking for a New Year's resolution, here are 10 things you can do in 2024 to curb your footprint and planetary impact and tackle climate change. “We are heading for environmental disaster unless we change our habits quickly.“…
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Policy & Regulation

Japanese Government Awards Multi-Million Dollar Grants to Plant-Based Egg & Cultivated Meat Startups

Anay Mridul Dec 29, 2023

The government of Japan has awarded grants worth $19.6M to two alternative protein startups, just after a new report shed light on the country's consumer preferences around meat alternatives. The Japanese government has included two…
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Health

Unsure About Veganuary? These Recent Studies Show the Many Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

Anay Mridul Dec 29, 2023

A host of studies published in the last few months reveal the benefits of a vegan diet in terms of kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and adolescent health, building up a solid argument for those unsure of taking up the Veganuary challenge. …
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Alt Protein

Israel’s Steakholder Foods Unveils ‘Industry-First’ 3D-Printed Vegan Eel

Anay Mridul Dec 29, 2023

Israeli startup Steakholder Foods has unveiled the industry's first 3D-printed eel to battle an industry riddled with overfishing and facing the threat of extinction. It is expected to include some cultivated eel cells at a future stage. …
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Vegan

Veganuary 2024: UK Supermarkets Champion Private-Label Ranges for Plant-Based Challenge

Anay Mridul Dec 28, 2023

As ever, UK supermarkets are leaning into Veganuary with a huge focus on vegan food items – but this time, they're spotlighting their own ranges, following a year where private-label products ruled the roost thanks to the cost-of-living…
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Plastic Pollution

Using AI to Explore the Impact of Microplastic Pollution on Soil and Agriculture

Anay Mridul Dec 28, 2023

Researchers have applied artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to analyse the effect of microplastics on soil properties, with the aim to support decision-making on plastic waste management and help align with ESG goals. …
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