Israeli President Isaac Herzog becomes world’s first president to taste cultivated meat, recognizes alternative proteins as a key climate solution
Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasted cultivated chicken from Israeli company Future Meat, as the country officially embraces alternative proteins as part of its National Climate Strategy ahead of COP26.
JERUSALEM (October 28, 2021) — On Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog became the world’s first president to taste cultivated meat, at a reception hosted by President Herzog in Jerusalem for the Israeli delegation to COP26.
Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg and Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar were also in attendance. In addition to Future Meat, Israeli startups Zero Egg, which is developing a plant-based egg product, and InnovoPro, which is developing protein from chickpeas, were in attendance to showcase their products to the delegation.
Addressing attendees at the reception, President Herzog underscored Israel’s role as a global leader in alternative protein innovation as a critical component of climate change mitigation strategy globally:
“It is imperative that we take advantage of the international stage in Glasgow to present the extensive Israeli climate tech and solutions we can offer globally in climate innovation and development of alternatives to animal protein. We certainly have much to be proud of.”
In a post on the President’s official Facebook page, Herzog wrote: “Today, the President’s House opened its doors to a fascinating and innovative exhibition in which revolutionary technological solutions in the field of environmental protection were presented. I was excited to be the first president in the world to eat cultured meat. It was amazingly delicious!”
Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Ms. Tamar Zandberg: “The most important thing the Corona crisis has taught us is that we must listen to science, both to understand the problems and to find solutions. This is true also for the climate crisis, and we have seen some of the solutions here [at the reception]. I ate chicken for the first time in seven years, it was cultivated chicken. This technology will not only change Israel but will contribute to the whole world.”
GFI Israel Managing Director Nir Goldstein: “It is not a coincidence that foodtech and alternative protein are at the forefront of the Israeli delegation to Glasgow and were discussed between Prime Minister Bennett and President Biden. This Israeli technology is a strategic asset to our country in this era of climate crisis.”
Press contact
Maia Keerie maiak@gfi.org +1 415-767-8973
About The Good Food Institute
The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals.
