Opinion Column: Facing the challenges of vegan food production

From the pages of Produce Business UK Veganism in the UK has grown tremendously in recent years. The Vegan Society claims that the number of people sticking to a plant-based diet quadrupled between 2014 and 2019 and now totals more than 600,000 people. And just five years ago, the Veganuary campaign had fewer than 13,000 registrations, while now it has more than 400,000. All the research on veganism indicates that the number of people switching is growing year after year; before even considering that all vegetarians and flexitarians also make use of innovative vegan products, suggesting that this is a more long-term move rather than just a passing trend. So the rise of veganism clearly presents UK food producers with some real opportunities. But while the industry must prepare to meet the new demand, it must also overcome significant and unprecedented obstacles to ensure the highest possible standards are maintained. Without a doubt, some of the increased adoption of veganism has ...