It’s been one other tumultuous yr for many individuals for a lot of causes, however within the plant-based business, there was some massive constructive change. Billionaires have pledged to assist the meals system transfer away from meat, various espresso chains have lastly stopped penalizing anybody who needs dairy-free milk (over half of the espresso chains within the US, to be extra exact), and a few of the greatest movie star names have been enjoying their function in serving to to make plant-based meals extra accessible to everybody.
Learn on to search out out extra about these main feats in our prime 10 tales of the yr. The listing contains the whole lot from main experiences documenting important sustainable shifts in client habits to groundbreaking well being findings.
VegNews’ prime 10 tales of 2024
Hungry for extra? Listed here are the highest 10 meals tales of 2024.
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1 Jeff Bezos Pledges $60 Million to Construct a Plant-Ahead Meals System
In March 2024, billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pledged $60 million to assist construct a extra sustainable, plant-forward meals system. By way of The Bezos Earth Fund, which was first arrange in 2020, the Bezos launched the Facilities for Sustainable Protein with a objective to advance plant-based and cultivated meat. “We have to feed 10 billion folks with wholesome, sustainable meals all through this century whereas defending our planet,” Bezos Earth Fund Vice Chair Lauren Sánchez stated in a press release. “We will do it, and it’ll require a ton of innovation.”
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Starbucks
2 Starbucks Drops the Dairy-Free Surcharge
In October 2024, Starbucks followers throughout the US celebrated as the favored espresso chain lastly introduced it could now not cost further for dairy-free milk choices. The transfer got here after years of campaigns, together with one stunt by animal rights group Individuals for the Moral Therapy of Animals, which concerned actor James Cromwell gluing himself to a Starbucks counter to protest the cost. Starbucks CEO and chairman Brian Niccol stated in a press release: “By eradicating the additional cost for non-dairy milks, we’re embracing all of the methods our clients get pleasure from their Starbucks.”
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3 Billie Eilish Shares 120 Vegan Eating places
Billie Eilish has lengthy been dedicated to a sustainable, plant-based way of life. In September 2024, in partnership with Google Maps, she determined to assist others do the identical by sharing her 120 favourite vegan eateries throughout the US. The thought was to assist followers discover plant-based eating places to eat forward of attending her exhibits in the course of the Hit Me Laborious and Smooth tour, which commenced in September. “Each motion issues, regardless of how massive or small, and collectively we will actually start to heal our stunning planet,” Eilish stated in a press release. “Because of Google Maps, everybody may have easy accessibility to sources that may make it easier to make nice sustainable decisions once you come to my exhibits.”
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4 Why Tens of millions of People Need to Eat Much less Meat and Dairy: Report
In November 2024, an eye-opening report from the Plant Based mostly Meals Institute (PBFI) revealed that hundreds of thousands of People are selecting to eschew meat and dairy in favor of plant-based meals. The analysis, which was put along with assist from retail information from Kroger, discovered that many are selecting to take action for cost-effectiveness, however well being and sustainability are additionally key elements. “The previous yr has demonstrated that when the costs of animal merchandise additionally go up, consumers are prepared to be versatile and discover extra choices, together with plant-based,” Linette Kwon, PBFI’s client insights and information analyst, stated in a press release.
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5 Universities Can Save $650,000 a Yr by Serving Extra Plant-Based mostly Meals, Report Finds
One other report launched in October 2024 discovered that plant-based meals are additionally a less expensive resolution for universities. Researchers Chris Bryant, PhD and Billy Nicholles from Bryant Analysis discovered {that a} medium-sized college catering to round 10,000 college students may save $650,000 a yr if it switched to a plant-based catering mannequin. “Consistent with a wealth of educational literature, the info on this mannequin is evident: a plant-based transition is an environmental crucial,” they stated in a joint assertion. They added that “Crucially, we additionally discovered {that a} plant-based transition offers a chance for caterers to cut back their meals procurement prices. This report offers them the reassurance and steerage they should kickstart their transition to sustainable menus.”
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Design by Richard Bowie | Pictures by Carma HoldCo. and Mr. Charlie’s
6 Mike Tyson Invests in Vegan Burger Chain, Mr. Charlie’s
Mike Tyson is among the greatest names in boxing, however not too long ago, he’s additionally turned his consideration to plant-based meals. The legendary athlete invested in vegan fast-food chain Mr. Charlie’s—which presents a completely vegan menu impressed by McDonald’s—through his holding firm Carma HoldCo. “As somebody who embraced a vegan way of life for a few years, I perceive firsthand the facility of plant-based consuming—not only for our well being, however for the planet. Mr. Charlie’s is redefining what quick meals may be, providing scrumptious vegan meals whereas giving again to communities that want it most,” Tyson advised VegNews in October 2024.
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NYU
7 NYU Pledges to Serve Much less Meat
Additionally within the fall of 2024, New York College (NYU) promised to serve up extra plant-based meals in a bid to cut back its emissions. The distinguished establishment joined Columbia College, The Rockefeller College, and Fordham College by signing up for the NYC Plant-Powered Carbon Problem, a voluntary initiative focused at New York Metropolis’s personal sector. The thought is to encourage extra corporations to assist construct a extra sustainable meals system. Linda G. Mills, the president of NYU, stated in a press release: “Scrumptious, wholesome meals helps our neighborhood flourish, and lowering the related carbon footprint helps our planet flourish. NYU is proud to be part of this initiative and we hope others will be a part of us.”
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8 USDA Expands Plant-Based mostly Choices in Faculties
In July 2024, the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) launched new faculty meal pointers encouraging colleges to include extra plant-based proteins into each day meal applications. Beneath the brand new steerage, colleges are required to offer kids with a minimum of a ¼ cup of beans, peas, or lentils as a meat various. In addition to selling plant-based meals, the rules transfer away from a give attention to processed and high-fat elements, too.
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9 The US Open Commits to Serving Extra Plant-Based mostly Meals
Again in August 2024, the US Open additionally pledged to enroll in the NYC Plant-Powered Carbon Problem. In consequence, extra eateries at future tournaments will serve plant-based choices, because the US Open makes an attempt to fulfill its objective of lowering food-related emissions by 25 % by 2030. “As the consequences of local weather change grow to be extra prevalent, it’s placing athletes and plenty of of our favourite sporting occasions in danger,” Kate MacKenzie, the Govt Director of the Mayor’s Workplace of Meals Coverage, stated in a press release. “That’s why we have to draw down our greenhouse gasoline emissions, beginning with meals. We’re proud to companion with the US Open of their efforts to cut back their food-based emissions by scrumptious, plant-powered meals.”
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10 Analysis Says a Plant-Based mostly Weight loss program Can Make You Youthful
In the summertime of 2024, new findings from the Stanford twin research—a 2023 research that adopted a number of units of similar twins to find out the well being advantages of a plant-based weight-reduction plan—prompt that consuming extra vegetation may lower an individual’s organic age. This was because of its function in supporting DNA methylation—a course of that performs a key function in cell operate. In line with the analysis, a lower in organic age was seen in simply eight weeks in these following a plant-based weight-reduction plan. “[The research] means that anybody who chooses a vegan weight-reduction plan can enhance their long-term well being in two months, with essentially the most change seen within the first month,” stated the research’s senior creator Christopher Gardner, PhD.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and author primarily based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.