Monthly Hopium Injection #4

2023/08: People said that plant-based alternatives were a dying fad, but the data tells a different story.

To the 13 new people here, welcome! Here’s what this is:

Ho·pi·um

A Vegan cocktail of “hope” and “opium,” prescribed as a healthy dose of optimism, without the need for clinical trials.

Because here, the evidence speaks for itself.

This is a showcase of a VEGAN WORLD coming: hopeful Vegan news from the last month, all here, all NOW.

You ready?

Let’s hit it.

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POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

🐷 New Jersey Bans Veal and Gestation Crates:

• After 13 years of campaigning from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Humane Society, NJ becomes the 12th state to sign the ban into law.

State assemblyman Raj Mukherji couldn’t have explained it better:

“With today’s signature, we are one step closer to ensuring all living beings in New Jersey are treated with common decency and respect.”

🇺🇸 High Schoolers Take Plant-Forward Bill to US Congress:

• The National Plant-Based Youth Steering Committee proposed the Healthy Future Students and Earth Act (H.R.4108), which seeks to promote grant-based funding to schools that incorporate plant-based menu choices.

The corrupt dairy industry currently has a firm grip on US schools, with the National School lunch Program requiring milk to be served, and little funding (or incentives) for alternatives…

“Text ‘EARTH’ to 30373 to ask your member of congress to support H.R.4108.”

🌆 1,400 US Mayors Unite in Support of Plant-Based Cities:

• Following New York City’s Mayor, Eric Adams, the resolution is three pronged:

  1. Include plant-based options in any setting where city government provides food to constituents.

  2. Promote the health benefits of a plant-based diet for individuals.

  3. Evaluate the environmental impact of food choices.

Mayor Eric Adams is a favorite here, and for good reason: he seems to be on a quest to make the entire country Vegan, and he’s doing a damn good job thus far!

Mayor Eric Adams rn, probably.

PLANT-BASED DEVELOPMENTS

📈 Plant-Based Food Sales Increase YoY:

• The Plant-Based Food Association used US retail sales data to find that in 2022, plant-based sales increased by 6.6% while slaughter-based food sales decreased by 3%.

• Another report by Verified Market Research showed that the global plant-based food industry is expected to grow from 2021’s ~4.6 billion to ~14.2 billion by 2030 with a 13.8% CAGR.

While one company (Beyond Meat) recently showed decreased sales, this isn’t the whole picture…at all! It’s possible that other producers are entering the game and consumers are finding other alternatives they prefer. This is true for the USA, and for the WORLD. Keep reading and see for yourself!

🍜 Global Japanese Chain Restaurant Adds Vegan Ramen:

• KUURAKU has locations across the Asia-Pacific Region and Canada, and has begun using a special broth made with veggies and soy milk.

Just last month, I mentioned that Japan is working to improve Plant-Based options for tourists. While this is only a small step forward, it’s hopeful that Japan is walking the walk!

🍻 Another London Pub Goes Permanently Vegan:

• Originally a pop up, En Root has successfully taken over The Railway Tavern’s kitchen.

“We have been on a journey towards operating a more ethical and sustainable business.”

The owners give us the “why,” and with serving items like the Tandoori Wings with Chickpea Batter or the Mango Lassi Cheesecake, I get the how!

🛒 Sydney Opens Up a 100% Vegan Supermarket:

• “Greens” is now open for business.

The grocery store has lined its shelves with cheeze from Italy, salmonless sashimi from the Netherlands, and so many imported Vegan items you’d never usually find in an Australian suburb. To me, it sounds like heaven!

🥩 US Steakhouse Serves Plant-Steak for the 1st Time:

• Chunk Foods is the 1st plant-based meat company to enter a Steakhouse, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive!

“A daughter and her two kids were visiting Orlando to see her father who lives there. The father is a regular at Charley’s Steakhouse, but he’s never been able to enjoy it with his daughter and grandkids because they’re all Vegan, but this time, they were able to enjoy a big steak meal together as a family…”

Chunk Filet Mignon: $69
Wagyu Filet Mignon: $72

• The nationwide chain has since ordered 100,000 units and counting of the plant-steak!

As our Earth gets hotter and our collective consciousness becomes more aware of animal suffering, I predict this curve will look like a “J” by the end of 2030.

CELL-BASED DEVELOPMENTS

🇨🇳 China Enters the Cultivated Meat Space in a Big Way:

• CellX has established and commenced operations at the FX Factory, capable of producing 1,000 tons of cultivated meat.

I like their vision; I’m stealing their slogan next time I make “meat” for my guests,

“Eat meat, not animals.”

🧪 Another Animal-Free Growth Serum Achievement:

• Dyadic has developed Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), a key component of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) used in cultivated meat production, without the use of an animal.

In 2022, the global albumin market was valued at $5.7 million and growing, which will always be worth less than the animals who died for it. Alternatives are game changing!

♻️ Decentralized Solution to Transform Waste into Protein:

• Future Foods has introduced their “From Farm to Ferment” project, which provides farmers with fermentation units housed in upcycled shipping containers containing everything needed to turn discarded veggies into sustainable proteins.

The humble yet idyllic shipping container: first for tiny homes, now entire food production facilities!

IN OTHER HOPEFUL NEWS…

🤡 Officers Shut Down Activists, Now They Pay the Price:

• An Animal Rights Activist was leafleting at a public park in Beaver County, Utah, and was arrested for “not being wanted in the community…” A clear violation of their 1st amendment right, the county paid $52,000 in a settlement!

Justice doesn’t care about the people of a town “still feeling the pain from losing their jobs” at their now shutdown local Smithfield Pig killing facility. Justice cares about upholding the freedom of speech (and eventually, animals), and that’s exactly what happened. Now, those cops look like clowns!

📗 14-Year-Old Vegan Activist Becomes Book Author:

• Solomon Tadlock wrote “50 Comebacks for Vegan Kids,” a book made to equip kids like him with knowledge on how to respond to criticisms about Veganism.

Whatever activism you want to do, no matter how big or small, do it. The animals needs you, so if this kid can, so can you!

🐔 Tyson “Foods” Closes 4 More Slaughterhouses:

• The closure of these Chicken killing facilities represents a whopping 10% of their supply chain.

This follows 2 other Tyson “Foods” closures earlier this year. 6 down, 44 more to go! Supply and demand is a powerful force in capitalism: YOU are the demand, so YOU have the power. We all do.

Welcome to the Circus of Carnism, people.

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Do you feel the Hopium now, my dear reader?

Jokes aside, what from this list are you most excited about? Skeptical of? The discussion continues in the comments below!

If you want more before next month, there are dozens of developments that didn’t make the cut but are equally interesting. I share them on Substack Notes!

As always, I am grateful for your time and attention - thank you.

Be Vegan,
Dani