In this article, we discuss 18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia If you want to skip our plant-based protein industry, you can skip right over 5 Asia's Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries.
As more and more people turn to plant-powered living, it's really shaking up the way we eat around the world. A recent report from Bloomberg Intelligence suggests that plant-based foods are poised for a major boom, accounting for 7.7% of the global protein market by 2030. $162 billion. Especially with the growing population and all the talk about environmental issues, it seems like people are really digging the idea of switching out traditional animal-based proteins and dairy for plant-based alternatives.
Many Americans are changing their eating habits, with 30% now choosing plant-based alternatives to meat. This change has led to a change in cuisine, especially in urban areas that have embraced a vegetarian lifestyle. And it's not just individuals changing their diet. Companies are also taking action. Companies like Benson Hill (NYSE:BHIL), Calavo Growers, Inc (NASDAQ:CVGW), and Local Bounty Corporation (NYSE:LOCL) are leading the charge.
Benson Hill (NYSE:BHIL)
Benson Hill (NYSE:BHIL), a food technology company, uses its platform CropOS to develop high-protein plant-based proteins such as soy and pea. This reduces the need for energy-intensive processing in meat substitutes.
With revenue of $404.61 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2023, a growth of 50.13%, Benson Hill is the innovation leader. In February 2024, the company sold its Iowa soy processing business to White River Soy Processing. $72 million.
Calavo Growers, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVGW)
Calavo Growers, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVGW) is a global distributor of avocados, prepared avocados and perishable foods. For the twelve months ended January 31, 2024, the company posted revenue of $873.35 million, despite a year-over-year revenue decline of -16.80%.
In early 2024, Calavo Growers began negotiations to sell its pre-prepared fresh-cut fruit and vegetable business to F&S Fresh Foods for approximately $100 million. The move allows Calavo farmers to focus on its core operations, including tomatoes, papaya and prepared foods such as guacamole and salsa.
Local Bounty Corporation (NYSE:LOCL)
Local Bounty Corporation (NYSE:LOCL) is a leading indoor agriculture company in the United States, specializing in the growing and packaging of fresh greens. These include spinach, herbs and loose leafy greens. Its customers primarily consist of food retailers and food service distributors.
Recently, on February 13, 2024, Local Bounti announced a significant milestone: Copyright United States Patent and Trademark Office for its Stack & Flow technology. This innovation combines vertical and greenhouse growing techniques.
Even with all the buzz about a plant-based diet, some countries are still clinging to the old ways. Places like China, Japan and South Korea still love their meat. For them, meat is not just food – it's a symbol of success and status deeply embedded in their culture and cuisine. Additionally, with more money being spent, the demand for meat dishes continues to rise. So, the plant-based movement is growing in some places, and still has some persuasion to do so in others. In this article, we will discuss some of them Asia is one of the least vegetarian-friendly countries.
Fresh frozen vegetables and fish products are ready for packaging.
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In our extensive research for the article „18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia,” we looked at many sources and blogs like SCMP, Yahoo Finance, Insider Monkey, Ease my Trip, Fodor's Travel, Asher Ferguson, Huff Post, Vegan vs Travel, Tatler, Reddit, Exotravel, Dave does the travel thingAnd Metadata Network To understand the availability and variety of vegetarian options across the continent. Each country's ranking was determined by its frequency of appearance in our findings. This method allowed us to identify and list countries with low or low vegan-friendly diets.
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18. Kyrgyzstan
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia, is one of them 18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia. Kyrgyz cuisine is all about the meat, with dishes like beshparmak and shashlik taking center stage. Vegetarian options? They are very rare and are usually covered by all meat dishes. Even in the cities, where you can find some vegetarian dishes inspired by other cuisines, it is still difficult for vegetarians to break into the dining scene in Kyrgyzstan.
17. Uzbekistan
Insider Monkey Score: 2
In Uzbekistan, food is all about their nomadic and agricultural roots. Meat and dairy are the stars here. Think plov, shashlik and manti – all packed with meaty goodness. But if you're a vegetarian, the options are a bit slimmer. Sure, you'll find dishes like achichuk and vegetable stews, but they're not as popular as meat dishes.
16. Azerbaijan
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Like many other Caucasian countries, Azerbaijan is big on meat. Azerbaijanis love their meat, especially lamb. So, it is a bit challenging for vegetarians. You'll find vegetarian options, but if you're a meat eater the choices won't be fancy.
15. Malaysia
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Malaysia ranks fifteenth on the list 18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia. Malaysia, in Southeast Asia, is not an easy place for vegetarians. Their food scene is all about the meat, serving dishes like nasi lemak, char kway teow and satay with Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. But hey, there is hope! In cities, you'll see more vegetarian options popping up as people become more aware. They may not be as common as meat dishes, but they are there if you look for them.
14. Cambodia
Insider Monkey Score: 3
In Cambodia, the diet often focuses on meat, especially fish and poultry. Traditional Cambodian dishes such as amok (a curry made with fish or chicken), lok lak (fried beef or chicken), and Khmer red curry (often made with beef or chicken) really showcase the country's love of meat. In Cambodia, it can be very difficult to find options for vegetarians, especially in rural areas where meat dishes are predominant.
13. Monaco
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Monaco's culinary scene is all about meat and seafood, with French and Mediterranean influences shining through. You'll find classic dishes like Bouillabaisse and Coq au Vin in posh restaurants. Vegetarian options may not be plentiful or prominent, and even if some places offer vegetarian options, they can be limited. So, eating as a plant-based eater in Monaco's fancy restaurants can be challenging.
12. Myanmar
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Myanmar is full of some serious delicacies, flavors and spices. They are big on meat and fish, especially dishes like mohinga, labet thok and all kinds of curries. Meat and fish are usually the stars of the show in their traditional dishes. Myanmar is number twelfth on our list 18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia.
11. Laos
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Laos has some delicious food, mainly focusing on meat and fish. They have classics like larp, lop khao and mok pa, all filled with meat or fish. But if you are a vegetarian, it can be a bit difficult, especially outside the cities. In places like Vientiane, you'll find some vegetarian options, but they won't be as diverse as the meat-centric cuisine.
10. Hong Kong
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Hong Kong's food scene is a fusion of Chinese, British and global flavours. You have the classics like dim sum, fried meats and seafood. But meat and seafood usually take center stage. If you're a vegetarian in Hong Kong, finding the best options can be a bit of a challenge.
9. Mongolia
Insider Monkey Score: 5
In Mongolia, the diet is based on meat and milk. So for vegetarians, it's a bit tricky, especially outside the cities where meat dishes are all the rage. Even in places like Ulanbadar, which is vegetarian, the veggie options can still be difficult and not as varied as other non-vegetarian options.
8. Thailand
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Thailand's food scene is amazing, with tons of variety including meat, seafood and fish. Classics like pad thai, green curry and tom yum goong all contain meat. But vegetarians are also in luck. Thailand has vegetarian options such as vegetarian dishes and curries. But ingredients like fish sauce and shrimp paste can be tricky for strict vegetarians.
7. Indonesia
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Indonesia has influences from all over when it comes to food. Traditional dishes like nasi goreng, rendang and satay are all packed with meat. If you're a vegetarian, it can be a bit nerve-wracking, especially in local places. But places like Bali and Jakarta, thanks to international influences and tourism, have veggie-friendly options. However, it can be difficult to find strictly vegetarian food in many parts of the country. As in Thailand, fish sauce and shrimp paste are important ingredients for many dishes in Indonesia, which can be a little tricky for vegetarians.
6. Philippines
Insider Monkey Score: 9
The Philippines ranks sixth in the list of 18 vegetarian-friendly countries in Asia. Filipinos love their meat and seafood. Traditional dishes such as adobo, lechon and sinigang are all based on meat. In places like Manila and Cebu, things are changing. Restaurants and cafes have more awareness and more vegetarian options. They also offer vegetarian versions of Filipino favorites and dishes from around the world to cater to everyone's tastes.
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Disclosure: No. 18 Least Vegetarian Friendly Countries in Asia Originally published on Insider Monkey.