Abu Dhabi's First Plant-Based Meat Factory has Officially Opened

The opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi's first advanced plant-based meat production facility was held at KEZAD. The facility is set to begin producing food items from May 1 that are completely free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), soy, gluten, and allergens.

Switch Foods, a local food-tech start-up has announced that the plant-based meat production facility inaugurated in Abu Dhabi's KEZAD will produce vegan and halal-certified food items such as kebab, kafta, sujuk, minced meat, and burger patties, without using GMOs, soy, gluten, or allergens. The company claims the products will offer a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional meat products. The innovative facility, spread across a 20,000-square-foot plot, is expected to support sustainability, food security, and climate action efforts.

Mariam bint Mohammed AlMheiri, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, attended the facility's inauguration and highlighted the challenge posed by climate change to the food and agriculture sector.

She emphasized the need to ensure a consistent and healthy food supply while acknowledging that global food systems are responsible for more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. She added that plant-based meat produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions, ranging from 30 to 90 percent less, compared to traditional meat, and contributes to a more sustainable food supply.