INTRODUCTION

Worldwide, there has been a notable positive shift in consumer perceptions toward plant-based eating. This has led to enthusiastic responses from food producers and service providers, who are increasing their production and striving to innovate in order to supply the growing market for plant-based products. Over the past few years, private investments in alternative proteins have accelerated, growing by an average compound rate of 91% for the years 2016 through 2021.” 1

This shift in consumer perceptions has not been overlooked by political representatives. On September 12, 2022, an executive order from the White House announced plans to move toward cultivated meat. The announcement was made on a background press call on President Biden’s executive order to launch a national biotechnology and biomanufacturing Initiative, and is aimed at improving food security and driving agricultural innovation, including through new technologies that protect crops from disease and enhance seeds, fertilizers, and foods made with cultivated animal cells.2

This ranking is a response to this shift in perceptions and the resultant expansion of plant-based market, with the goal of supplying the labour market with highly-educated food technologists and scientists. It was conducted by ProVeg International, hereafter referred to as ProVeg.