China’s president signaled a greater willingness to accept alternative protein technologies during a recent speech before the country’s political advisory body.
Xi Jinping told the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on March 6 that “apart from traditional crops, livestock, and poultry resources, we should exploit biological resources,” according to remarks quoted by AgFunder News. This is seen as a reference to plant-based alternative protein products.
Beyond Meat opened a plant in China in early 2021, but some advanced alternative protein technologies, such as cell-cultured meat and precision fermentation, have yet to attain regulatory approval.
Previously, China’s agriculture ministry had included alternative proteins as part of its five-year plan.
