TOP NEWS THIS WEEK
Kickstarting for Good Seeks Impact Entrepreneurs: ProVeg International’s Kickstarting for Good accelerator program is seeking mission-driven entrepreneurs to launch and grow nonprofits and impact initiatives focused on transforming the food system. The ten-week program offers mentoring, networking, and a trip to Berlin. Participants will explore ideas such as policy change, AI for advocacy, plant-forward social media, and helping farmers transition away from animal agriculture. The program aims to support ventures that will make a meaningful impact in creating a more sustainable and compassionate food system. Apply by April 30 to be part of the first round of projects. Read more details on ProVeg International’s website.
Legume-Based Dairy Could Be The Next Plant-Based Innovation: New Zealand startup ANDFOODS is pioneering legume-based foods, including milk, milk powder, and cream. Using a novel fermentation process, the company aims to create products that are nutritionally and functionally superior to current dairy alternatives, with a neutral taste that blends seamlessly into recipes. This development is part of a growing trend of companies harnessing the potential of legumes to create sustainable, animal-free dairy alternatives. Read more on Plant Based News.
Insect bioacoustics: Researchers are exploring the potential of using machine learning to identify different insect species by their distinctive sounds, a technology known as automated bioacoustics. While the research focuses on applications that benefit humans such as identifying crop-pollinating bees, automated bioacoustics could be used to identify and address threats to the welbeing of wild animals, such as destruction or contamination of food sources, pesticide use, and climate change, ultimately contributing to the better wellbeing of future animals. Read more from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, but keep in mind that it is written from a deeply speciesist perspective.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Does Veganism Kill More Animals? The Argument, Decoded
The “crop death” argument, which claims that veganism kills more animals than eating meat, has been circulating for years. However, a close look at the facts reveals that this argument is deeply flawed. The vast majority of crops grown worldwide are fed to farmed animals, not humans. Eating animals not only causes their direct deaths but also contributes to the deaths of countless other animals due to the harvesting of animal feed crops. One version of this argument claims that we would cause fewer deaths overall if we hunted for food rather than eating vegetable crops. While there is a kernel of truth in this, it wouldn’t be possible to provide food for the world this way, and, much more importantly, we are trying to solve the wrong problem if aren’t asking how we can eat without harming animals. Read the full analysis on Sentient Media.
QUICK BITES
The Best and Easiest Hummus: Learn how to make ultra-creamy hummus in just 5 minutes with this simple 7-ingredient recipe. Customize it with your favorite add-ins like roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or chipotle peppers for endless flavor variations. Find the recipe on Nora Cooks.
Berry Heart Cake: This vegan berry heart cake is a decorative dessert for any occasion. The fluffy sponge cake is topped with fresh berries and a vegan red cake glaze, making it as beautiful as it is delicious. Get the recipe from Bianca Zapatka.
DID YOU KNOW?
The term “speciesism” was coined by British psychologist Richard D. Ryder in 1970. Speciesism is a form of discrimination based on species membership, often favoring humans over other animals. It is a fundamental concept in animal rights philosophy, highlighting the unjustified moral distinction between human and non-human animals. The term has since been popularized by animal advocates who argue that the capacity to suffer, rather than intelligence or other traits, should be the basis for moral consideration.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
How can we best support entrepreneurs and organizations working to transform the food system? What role do accelerator programs like Kickstarting for Good play in fostering innovation and impact in this space? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Stay informed and keep advocating for a more vegan world. See you next week with more updates!
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