Damage from heatwaves and heavy rain... Growing alternative meat market amid climate anomalies

UK and China Issue Heatwave Warnings... Australia and Southeast Asia Suffer Heavy Rain Damage
Growing Interest in Alternative Meat Amid Climate Crisis Concerns

Photo by Pixabay.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the globe suffers from abnormal weather such as heatwaves and heavy rains, interest in alternative meat is increasing. Since livestock farming significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, people are turning to alternative meat instead of traditional meat as a way to respond to the climate crisis. Domestic food companies are also entering the alternative meat market, and the size of the domestic market is expected to grow further in the future.

Record-breaking heatwaves are raging across the world. The UK Met Office issued an 'Amber Warning' on the 12th (local time), forecasting that some parts of the UK will experience temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius this weekend. This warning is the second highest of three levels, indicating severe adverse effects on daily life due to extreme heat.

China is also experiencing a heatwave exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for over a week, mainly in the central and southern regions. In particular, Shanghai recorded 40.9 degrees Celsius on the 13th, the highest temperature in 149 years since meteorological observations began in 1873. Consequently, the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert, the highest level of heatwave warning, for 84 cities including Shanghai.

On the other hand, some countries suffered from floods due to heavy rains. In eastern Australia, which is in winter, nearly 700mm of heavy rain fell over four days starting from the 2nd, and recent heavy rains in Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, caused continuous damage.

As awareness of the climate crisis rises, various environmental protection measures are gaining attention. A representative measure is alternative meat. Alternative meat refers to foods made from plant-based ingredients such as soybeans that mimic the appearance and texture of meat.

Meatballs made from plant-based ingredients. Photo by Beyond Meat Instagram

The reason alternative meat is gaining attention is due to methane gas emitted by cows. Greenhouse gases that cause global warming and various climate changes include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons, with methane mainly coming from cow flatulence and burps. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, a single cow emits over 50 kg of methane annually for beef cattle and more than 120 kg for dairy cows, which is more than twice that amount. Compared to the approximately 200 kg of carbon dioxide emitted annually by a single car, the amount of methane emitted by cows is significant.

As more people prefer alternative meat to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the related market is also expanding. The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation forecasts that the global alternative meat market will grow from 4.24 trillion KRW in 2015 to 7 trillion KRW in 2023.

Domestic food companies are also continuously launching alternative meat products. Initially, the alternative meat market grew around U.S. food tech companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, but recently, domestic food companies have also entered the competition. CJ CheilJedang launched the plant-based food brand 'Plantable' last year, and Shinsegae Food has expanded its business by launching the alternative meat brand 'Better Meat.'

Lee Wonbok, representative of the Korea Vegetarian Union, said, "Interest in alternative meat is a global phenomenon. Considering the climate crisis and animal rights comprehensively, natural plant-based diets (vegetarianism) and the alternative meat market are bound to attract attention. Also, plant-based protein emits less greenhouse gas than animal protein. Therefore, interest in alternative meat will continue to rise."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.