Author

Anay Mridul 2580 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 Protein

India’s ‘Smart Protein’ Sector Gets Another Boost with Two Govt-Backed Biotech Facilities

Anay Mridul Apr 7, 2026

In its latest biotech drive, the Indian government has launched a new incubator for food tech startups and begun construction on a $4.5M biofoundry for alternative proteins. India's vision to shore up its biomanufacturing sector has…
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Green Business

Meat-Free Restaurant Chain Clover Food Lab Seeks New Buyer to Avoid Closure

Anay Mridul Apr 7, 2026

US fast-casual chain Clover Food Lab, one of Greater Boston's most well-known meat-free establishments, risks mass layoffs and closure if it doesn't find a new buyer before June. One of Massachusetts's longest-standing vegetarian…
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UPFs

California Certified: America’s Largest State Proposes Non-UPF Label for Food Producers & Supermarkets

Anay Mridul Apr 6, 2026

California is considering a new bill seeking to create a non-ultra-processed seal that food manufacturers can use on packaging, and grocery stores would be required to prominently display. Taking a leaf out of the organic food playbook,…
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Fermentation-Based Alt Protein

Novonesis & DTU to Convert Carbon Into Protein As Part of Bill Gates-Backed Project

Anay Mridul Apr 6, 2026

Novonesis has partnered with the Technical University of Denmark's Bright hub to transform waste CO2 into sustainable protein as part of the Acetate Consortium backed by the Gates and Novo Nordisk Foundations. As gas protein gains…
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Alt Protein

Japan’s Umami United & Tokyo Denki University to Recreate Egg Proteins with Plants

Anay Mridul Apr 6, 2026

Japanese vegan egg producer Umami United has partnered with the Tokyo Denki University on a research project to recreate the functionality of eggs with plant-based ingredients. Whether it's okonomiyaki or soufflé pancakes, some of…
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Policy & Regulation

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Expand US Plant-Based Biomanufacturing with Tax Incentives

Anay Mridul Apr 6, 2026

A new bill in the US House of Representatives is aiming to provide tax cuts to incentivise the production of bio-based chemicals and materials through plant-based crops. In a bid to bolster demand for plant-based crops and strengthen…
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Alt Protein

Starbucks Brings Protein Drinks to Europe, Including Lattes with Alpro Soy Milk

Anay Mridul Apr 3, 2026

Starbucks has teamed up with Danone to launch protein lattes featuring Alpro's protein-boosted soy milk in Central Europe. Plus, it has introduced protein cold foams in EMEA, although they're not plant-based. Following rollouts in North…
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Future Foods

World’s Largest Food Companies Call on EU to Include Novel Foods in Regulatory Sandboxes

Anay Mridul Apr 3, 2026

The EU's decision to exclude novel foods from regulatory sandboxes under the Biotech Act is facing pushback from the food industry, including a trade group representing the sector's largest companies. Novel foods are the only category…
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Alt Protein

‘Still Serious’: Beyond Burger & Steak the First Plant-Based Meat Products Certified As Climate Solutions

Anay Mridul Apr 3, 2026

Amid debate about the company's shifting priorities, Beyond Meat's burger and steak have become the first plant-based meat products to qualify for the climate solutions certification. "We're still serious about fighting climate change……
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Alt Protein

JBS, the World’s Largest Meat Company, Opens $37M ‘Superprotein’ Centre in Brazil

Anay Mridul Apr 3, 2026

Brazilian meat behemoth JBS has opened a $37M facility to produce what it calls "superproteins", which include microbial and cultivated proteins, targeting supplements and precision nutrition. The world's largest meat company just made…
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Cell-Based News

Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Bill Attempting to Ban Cultivated Meat

Anay Mridul Apr 2, 2026

Wisconsin's bid to restrict the labelling and sale of cultivated meat has been rejected, with Governor Tony Evers vetoing the bill as it would create "more questions than it would answer". A Wisconsin bill attempting to ban the sale of…
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Funding News

Italy’s The Bridge, A Decades-Old Plant-Based Pioneer, Acquired by Investment Firm Ambienta

Anay Mridul Apr 2, 2026

Italian plant-based dairy pioneer The Bridge has been acquired by asset manager Ambienta, with the founding Negro Marcigaglia family reinvesting in the 32-year-old company. One of Italy's most well-established plant-based food companies…
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Policy & Regulation

Less Meat, More Plants: MAHA Groups & American Heart Association Counter US Dietary Guidelines

Anay Mridul Apr 2, 2026

The American Heart Association's new dietary recommendations prioritise plant proteins over meat, countering the national guidelines, just as MAHA-aligned groups urge a shift away from processed meat. The backlash to the Trump…
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Fermentation-Based Alt Protein

Exclusive: All G Earns FDA Approval to Sell Cow-Free Lactoferrin Protein in US

Anay Mridul Apr 2, 2026

Australian startup All G has received a 'no questions' letter from the US FDA for its precision-fermented lactoferrin ingredient, which it will begin selling "within months". All G, a Sydney-based startup using microbial fermentation to…
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Funding News

Create Wellness Bags $20M to Expand Vegan Gummies & Powders in Red-Hot Creatine Market

Anay Mridul Apr 1, 2026

US startup Create Wellness has raised $20M in Series B funding to expand its creatine supplements in gummy and powdered drink formats, leaning into the GLP-1, women's health, and longevity categories. As creatine transitions from a…
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Future Foods

Nestlé & UN University Launch Global Academy to Advance Sustainable Food Systems

Anay Mridul Apr 1, 2026

Nestlé has teamed up with the United Nations University to establish the World Food Academy 4 Sustainable Food Systems, which aims to support youth in the future food sector, particularly in the Global South. The world's largest food…
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Future Food Quick Bites

Future Food Quick Bites: EcoButter Chocolates, La Vie Sneakers & Bold Bean Co

Anay Mridul Apr 1, 2026

Our weekly column rounds up the latest sustainable food innovation news. This week, Future Food Quick Bites covers Savor's United Airlines showcase, La Vie's foray into fashion, and Bold Bean Co's sales milestone. New products and…
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Alt Protein

Beyond Meat Bets on ‘Less Controversial’ Products to Recover from All-Time Sales Low in 2025

Anay Mridul Apr 1, 2026

Beyond Meat's revenues fell to a record low in 2025, with the company hoping its move into other categories and debt restructuring deal will support its path to "sustainable operations". After two rounds of delays, Beyond Meat – or…
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Funding News

3 Future Food Projects Get $4.7M Dutch Govt Funding for Cultivated Meat & Fermentation

Anay Mridul Mar 31, 2026

The Dutch Research Council has awarded €4.1M ($4.7M) to three cellular agriculture research projects looking to scale up cultivated meat and precision-fermented foods. Extending its role as one of Europe's future food leaders, the…
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Funding News

Standing Ovation Bags $34.2M from Bel, Danone & French Govt to Launch Animal-Free Casein

Anay Mridul Mar 31, 2026

French precision fermentation startup Standing Ovation has raised €30M ($34.2M) in Series B and non-dilutive funding to commercialise its cow-free casein protein, starting with the US. The French government and two of the country's…
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Alt Dairy

Swiss Court Bans Use of ‘Milk’ on Plant-Based Alternatives, Rejecting Danone’s Appeal

Anay Mridul Mar 31, 2026

The Swiss Federal Court has rejected Danone's appeal to allow it to use the word 'milk' in the labelling of its Alpro This Is Not M*lk product, echoing a decision in the UK earlier this year. The plant-based industry's fight for…
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