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Innovative technologies that enable manufacturing products with high added value as well as reducing adverse environmental impact were discussed at the round table "Future of Alternative Pant Products in the Eurasian Space".

The event was chaired by Artak Kamalyan, Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission, involving representatives of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), executive authorities, business structures, industry unions and associations, scientific, industrial and educational institutions of the Eurasian Economic Union countries.

"Today, it is important to develop the EAEU countries’ agricultural sector with an eye on global trends, such as organic agriculture, alternative proteins and introduction of digital technologies as well as a special emphasis on the sustainable development of agriculture", Artak Kamalyan noted.

The discussion attendees considered the growth potential for manufacturing and selling alternative analogues of livestock products in the EAEU and throughout the world, including economic and technological aspects and issues of personnel and scientific support.

In particular, representatives of manufacturing companies and retail noted the constant increase in demand for plant products. This tendency is a consequence of the trend in healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and environmental protection. Here, at the EEC’s venue, the event attendees got acquainted with the experience of developing alternatives to products of animal origin on the example of a successful startup.

The consultation attendees paid special attention to relevant matters of technical regulation of plant-based products, indicating the need to develop relevant interstate standards in the EAEU.

The Union of Plant-based Food Manufacturers announced the results of research on the perception of plant products conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center at the request of the industry association. The monitoring results showed that the popular majority of Russia was aware of plant products available in the market. 58% of respondents believe that vegetable meat is made only from vegetable components without the use of animal meat and this is allowing for the fact that 79% of them have not tasted vegetable meat. 14% of respondents answered that such meat was of animal origin with plant components. The rest of the audience surveyed found it difficult to answer the question.

Following the event, the sides agreed on the need to strengthen inter-country interaction within the EAEU in order to determine approaches to sustainable development of agriculture, develop innovative technologies and common requirements that will enable the Union countries to propel the industry to a brand new, modern competitive level.