BBQ Jack isn't what it sounds. It is actually jackfruit impersonating as meat. It was one of the items in India's largest shipment of plant-based meat sent to the US recently. Wakao Foods' shipment of jackfruit products, weighing 13 tonnes, is the first of two containers being sent to the USA. The shipment includes, besides BBQ Jack, Raw Jack, Indian Gravy, Continental Jack burger patties, Jack Supreme burger patties, American herbs sausages, hot and spicy sausages, and Teriyaki Jack.Plant-based meat, a trend that caught on in the West in the past decade, has also reached India in the past few years. And Indians are now eyeing Western markets. Last year in September, India sent its first shipment of plant-based meat products to the US. The consignment of manufacturers Greenest and Wholesome Foods included momos, mini samosas, patties, nuggets, spring rolls, burgers, etc.Plant-based meat is made of soya, mushrooms, peas, jackfruit, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas, millets, wheat, rice, etc. It imitates the texture, taste, looks and smell of actual meat. People who want to cut down on meat consumption or give it up completely, and vegetarians who want to increase protein intake are the target customers of manufacturers of plant-based meat.India's export potentialThe export potential for plant-based meat in India by 2030 is projected from Rs 2,194 crore to Rs 6,824 crore, according to a report by The Good Food Institute (GFI) India and Deloitte India. The number range for plant-based dairy is Rs 459 crore to Rs 1,889 crore. The export potential for plant-based eggs in 2030 is between Rs 266 crore to Rs 631 croreA United States Department of Agriculture report says a large vegetarian population and greater demand for healthy foods are fueling the rapid expansion of plant-based meat substitutes in India which offers opportunities for American exporters in both consumer-oriented products and raw materials to support local manufacturers. However, Indian companies are eying the American market because they have several advantages over American companies.In the case of lab-grown and cultured meats, Indian companies cannot compete with Americans because India lacks the required technology. But plant-based meat is different. Indian exporters can leverage India's strong tradition of plant-based foods. Traditionally, Indians know how to make vegetarian food tasty.India has a large and growing workforce, low wages, and abundant raw materials, which together help to keep the cost of plant-based food production low compared to other countries. Food technology in India is already developed enough to create the best quality plant-based meat that tastes, looks and smells like real meat. India's indigenous crops such as millets can be used to make plant-based food. Even traditional crops such as chickpeas are available aplenty.Read more at:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/pure-veg-meat-an-export-frontier-for-india-to-conquer/articleshow/101338898.cms (ICE MUMBAI)

Fonte notizia: The Economic Times