Inside the International Centre for Culinary Arts in Abu Dhabi, taste-testing is under way with judges trying and assessing different types of cell-based chicken, fermentation-derived chicken and plant-based fish for a competition that seeks to revolutionise food production and consumption.
The XPrize Feed the Next Billion competition, involving teams from China, Argentina, South Korea, Canada, Austria and Estonia was launched four years ago, and will crown a winner in October with a $15 million prize.
In 2020, XPrize, a US-based non-profit that seeks to encourage the altruistic development of technology, teamed up with Aspire, the programme management and business development arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council announced the competition with hopes of trying to transform the way food is produced and in turn, help combat hunger.
What started as more than 350 teams vying for the $15 million prize has been whittled down to six.
Besides taste, the various food offerings from participating teams are judged on structure, preparation and cookability, in addition to aroma and overall similarity to their animal-origin equivalents.
“The call that we put out was that we wanted any company, any team, anywhere in the world to develop a chicken breast or a fish fillet in its full structure that we're used to without reliance or animals,” said Caroline Kolta, programme director for XPrize Feed the Next Billion.
“These alternatives need to hit specific targets, other than being similar in structure and muscle, they had to be nutritionally equivalent to the chicken breast or fish fillet, they had to cost the same at scale and they had to be safe and eliminate the use of antibiotics, and most importantly, they had to be delicious,” she added.
The competition has been taking place amid a backdrop of concern of a growing world population at a time of climate change.
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), meat and dairy account for approximately 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gasses.
Finding a protein alternatives could make a significant impact by lessening the world's reliance on environmentally taxing animal agriculture methods, while also making it easier to feed a growing population which is expected by some estimates to reach 10 billion by 2050.
Alternative proteins, while not necessarily new to the overall food marketplace, do have several shortcomings in terms of nutritional value and cost barriers. They also tend to skew towards beef and pork alternatives.
“XPrize shifted the focus,” said Veena Hausen, programme manager for Aspire. “There was nobody really looking at chicken breast or fish fillet.”
Prize organisers said that while beef offers the highest margin of profit for food companies, that margin caused a gap in the market where fish and chicken are often overlooked in terms of protein alternatives.
A potential added bonus is that chicken and fish are more widely consumed, proving that there is market demand for more protein alternatives.
“In the US, burgers are a staple and in high-end restaurants you go and have a steak, but when you really think of mass consumption and a global consumer, chicken and fish are a priority,” said Ms Kolta of XPrize. “Chicken or fish might not be immediately as lucrative, but that's what we think about when we design the competition, we want to make it incentivised for innovators when it's not obvious.”
The $15 million prize, according to organisers, is part of the overall plan to provide that incentive to spark innovation for chicken and fish protein alternatives, potentially providing winners with capital to scale their products.
In addition to the taste-testing, food scientists, culinary chefs, environmental life-cycle assessment scientists and business experts make up the judging panels which will help to select a winning team.
Of the six finalists contending for the top prize, one of the teams from China is focusing on cell-based chicken, which involves the extraction of stem cells from animals and placing them in a bio-reactor to help grow the cells into something resembling a chicken breast.
Four of the other teams from South Korea, Canada, Austria and Estonia, are focusing on plant-based protein, in this case, plant-based fish, which is derived from plants such as soy, rice, potatoes, peas and grains in a way that resembles the texture fish.
One team, from Argentina, is working on fermentation-derived chicken, which involves the growth of micro organisms in a controlled environment.
The environmental footprint of all three methods, according to prize organisers, is also being taken into consideration throughout the judging process.
The competition is also supported by The Tony Robbins Foundation, a US-based non-profit which seeks to provide millions of meals around the world each year and award grants to health and human services organisations.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
More on animal trafficking
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
South Africa World Cup squad
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
