Oaty Butter (Butter Luxe Co) wins New World Emerge with an oat-based spread fortified with prebiotic fibre and plant protein, positioned as NZ’s first of its kind. The prize matters in the form of a fast-track shot at nationwide New World shelves plus mentor support — i.e., real retail pipes, not just PR. Globally, oat-milk-butter is no longer a novelty

Cultivated meat has finally achieved regulatory approval in Australia, yet political pressure is rising: at Queensland’s LNP gathering, there’s a deliberate push to outlaw lab-grown meat, revealing entrenched agri‑power pushing back. This is a pivotal moment where regulatory triumphs might be undone by legislative bloc. Cultivators must now navigate not just food-safety exams, but political capture.

Hawkens Gingerbread, based in Grantham, has achieved a UK first, growing ginger commercially in flood-and-drain hydroponic tunnels. Founder Alastair Hawken developed a controlled tropical environment (25–30 °C and ~85% humidity) to bypass the UK’s unsuitable climate, aiming to reduce import reliance and cut 38 tonnes of CO₂ emissions linked to imported ginger.

Christchurch’s plant-based leaders Grater Goods and Green Dinner Table have joined forces in a strategic acquisition aimed at long-term survival in a volatile food landscape. Flip Grater’s deli brand has acquired Green Dinner Table’s meal box business, keeping both labels intact while integrating operations, logistics, and creative development. The collaboration aims to safeguard values-led, independent food culture in New Zealand while broadening reach to more consumers.

The Monash Alt Protein Project is proof the next wave of sustainable food innovation isn’t waiting for corporate R&D labs to set the pace. This student-led initiative, selected by The Good Food Institute to join a global network of alt-protein university projects, is connecting Monash’s biotech, food science, and environmental expertise with Melbourne’s growing start-up scene.

PETA (US) has escalated its “Vegan Cheese, Please” campaign by buying stock in Domino’s U.S. This gives them formal pathway access to annual meetings and shareholder resolutions—directly pushing for vegan cheese on U.S. menus. Domino’s already offers it internationally, suggesting proven product viability.

Plant-based retail is heading into Plant Based World North America with a market tailwind. U.S. CPI for food has fallen from 10.1% in January 2023 to 2.6% in February 2025, while average plant-based shelf prices have flipped from +10.5% YoY to –3.8% YoY. This shift signals easing pricing pressure and room for value-driven growth strategies. Data-Spins Satori, 2025

The 2025 KiwiNet Awards for Research shortlist reveals how New Zealand’s deep science is shaping the future of food and marine industries. Standouts include Ocean Intelligence from the Cawthron Institute, a biological forecasting platform designed to give marine farmers advanced insights into water conditions, enabling better planning, stock management, and environmental stewardship.

Australian alt-meat leader v2food is making a rare offensive move in a cooling global plant-based market, acquiring US-based Daring Foods.

Heinz Kethchup Smoothie-meets-condiment campaign is a textbook example of narrative disruption in functional snacking. With consumers embracing fluid food categories and novelty formats, this limited-edition drop fuses comfort, curiosity, and controversy, all in one sip.

MG Group’s decision to convert five hectares of its Warkworth (North of Auckland) capsicum glasshouse into tomato production signals a renewed strategic focus on domestic food resilience amid rising pressure in both local and regional produce markets.

New Zealand and Singapore are co-investing NZD $3 million into solving hybrid meat’s biggest problem: nobody’s really buying it yet. The project, co-led by University of Canterbury and the National University of Singapore, is building an affordable, flavour-forward hybrid protein that grows real animal cells on plant-based scaffolds made from agri-waste.

Tesla's LA diner has landed, but its menu raises questions. Despite the brand’s eco-identity, the diner’s offerings lean heavily on beef, dairy, and classic Americana. In a world racing toward climate-friendly proteins and conscious consumption, this feels like a retrograde move—or a brand experiment stuck in time. Sustainability? Not yet.

Cellular Agriculture Australia’s latest white paper (CAA) makes the case: both nations have the talent, regulatory strength, and clean feedstocks to lead, but lack clear industrial policy to scale biomanufactured food production onshore. If they don’t act, they risk becoming spectators in a global food system no longer reliant on land or climate — and vulnerable to losing export relevance in a self-feeding world.

Clever Carnivore’s $0.07/L culture media sets a new standard in cultivated meat cost reduction, marking a shift from proof-of-concept to scalable food manufacturing. This development may reignite investor interest and set off a new phase of bioprocess arms races across the alt-protein world.

New Zealand’s recent trade delegation to China, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, has triggered a wave of concern from across the business, innovation, and export communities. A now-viral LinkedIn thread by former Alibaba ANZ GM Pier Smulders revealed what many insiders have quietly known for years, that the country’s global trade strategy remains anchored in outdated paradigms.

High-performance, clean-label pea protein texturiser aims to disrupt plant-based binder systems and redefine functional ingredients in alt-meat.

Germany’s Veganz Group has signed a strategic agreement with Illinois-based Jindilli Beverages (milkadamia) to distribute its proprietary Mililk plant-based milk concentrates across North America and the Australia–New Zealand region. The deal bypasses traditional RTD logistics by shipping concentrated oat and almond bases for local mixing, reducing emissions, packaging waste, and storage requirements.

Following a successful UK rollout, the Meat-Free Made Easy campaign is now being positioned for launch in Australia and New Zealand. UK convener Indy Kaur confirmed workshops held in partnership with the ANZ Alternative Protein Council, V2 Foods, Fry’s, and Simplot revealed similar category barriers across regions—consumer confusion, taste hesitation, and lack of familiarity.

Chobani’s reported $600 million acquisition of Daily Harvest signals a clear strategic expansion into frozen plant-based meals, positioning itself to own consumer choices across the full day. The deal sets a precedent for vertical brand portfolios that combine chilled, frozen, and shelf-stable formats to maximise cross-selling and retention.