Lever Foundation

06/22/2026

Singapore-based Oatside has cracked the two things that put younger drinkers off soy milk: the beany aftertaste and the watery texture. Nobo softens both by packing more soybean into every pack, no gums, emulsifiers, or protein powders needed.

The result is 4.2g of protein per 100ml, around 40% more than dairy, in original and roasted almond varieties. Available now in Singapore, where 30% of consumers are cutting back on dairy, and Malaysia, where 48% want to drink more plant-based milk.

Singaporean plant-based milk leader Oatside has unveiled a new brand, Nobo, with two high-protein soy milks aiming to give the Asian classic a modern makeover.

06/20/2026

From a small duck egg farm in Nakhon Pathom Province, Kasemchai Food has grown into one of Thailand's established integrated farming operations with nearly five decades of experience.

The expansion will see KCF's cage-free output rise from 100,000 to 300,000 eggs a day, driven by confirmed orders from major hospitality and foodservice clients including Shangri-La Hotels, Sodexo, and Suki Teenoi. That means hundreds of thousands more hens able to walk, stretch their wings, and nest.

While these changes are promising, reducing or eliminating egg consumption remains the best way to protect hens & ducks.

06/16/2026

Founded in 1996, Xuri Egg Products is one of China's top-ten duck egg producers, with 2023 sales reaching 505 million RMB and products sold across Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

The new commitment makes Xuri the first enterprise in China to set a 100% cage-free duck egg export target — building on its 2024 NSF Animal Welfare Certification and an existing supply relationship with Costco in the US. Its latest commitment shows that heritage food producers can lead on animal welfare just as readily as modern food companies.

While these changes are promising, reducing or eliminating egg consumption remains crucial for protecting ducks.

06/13/2026

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30) goes further than any previous edition — explicitly committing to industrialise and scale microbial proteins, synthetic biology, and biomanufacturing at a national level.

The move is partly about reducing import dependence, particularly on soybeans, and partly about climate. Experts suggest that half of China's protein consumption will need to come from sustainable sources to meet its emissions targets.

China has released a draft of its policy priorities under its 15th five-year plan, with new protein sources and green energy a key part of its climate strategy.

06/09/2026

Researchers ran a randomized crossover trial comparing a low-fat plant-based eating pattern with a Mediterranean one. The plant-based group also cut total energy demand by 55% — while the Mediterranean group reduced emissions by just 20%.

Both patterns are widely recommended. Only one moved the needle on planetary health in any meaningful way.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new randomized clinical trial provides some of the clearest evidence to date that what we eat can meaningfully reshape both human health and the health of the planet.

06/06/2026

eLong Hotel Technology is one of China's top 10 hotel groups and the 19th-largest globally, operating over 3,000 properties across 300 cities and eight countries, with a loyalty programme of 35 million members. The group's new commitment brings plants from 40% to 50% of all menu items within three years, starting with breakfast.

Lever China is working closely with eLong on implementation, providing chef support, plant-based dish inspiration tailored to its brand, and seasonal menu ideas to keep offerings fresh. The rollout begins with breakfast, chosen for its high guest reach and strong potential for plant-based innovation.

06/02/2026

The guide is the first government-endorsed resource for Indonesian egg producers, covering production methods, economic analysis, and farm management practices drawn from Indonesian operations and international precedent.

It arrives as demand builds. More than 2,300 food companies globally have committed to 100% cage-free sourcing, including SuperIndo, Swiss-Belhotel, and Ismaya Group.

Progress like this matters for the hens already inside the system. But reducing or cutting egg consumption altogether remains the most direct way to protect them.

05/30/2026

Two peer-reviewed studies found that swapping processed meat for plant-based alternatives increases fibre intake by 4–6% and cuts saturated fat by 6–7%, even when the alternatives are classified as ultra-processed.

Most plant-based meats scored as healthy under the UK Food Standards Agency's nutrient model, and some lifted overall fruit and vegetable intake across participants' diets.

The researchers also flagged a gap: inconsistency in fortification across manufacturers. They're calling for national guidelines to standardise micronutrient levels so plant-based meat can function as a reliable replacement for animal protein.

Replacing processed meat with plant-based analogues, even if they're ultra-processed, increases fibre and reduces saturated fat intake, two UK studies show.

05/26/2026

Xiao Diao Li Tang has built its reputation on authentic Beijing cuisine since 2007, with ingredient quality at the center of its brand philosophy. The latest commitment extends that standard to how its ingredients are sourced and farmed.

The transition covers all poultry across the menu, including chicken, duck meat, and eggs, building on an existing practice: its signature Jasmine Roast Duck has used cage-free ducks as its core ingredient for years.

While these changes are promising, reducing or eliminating egg consumption remains crucial for protecting hens.

05/23/2026

Thailand's plant-based food market hit $1.39 billion in 2025, and the country is now chasing $10.8 billion in future food exports by 2027.

The lever? Upcycling. As the world's largest exporter of cassava starch, Thailand sits on a huge volume of agricultural by-products that can be processed into protein concentrates, functional fibres, and starch ingredients. New separation tech is making that conversion viable at industrial scale.

It's also a policy play. The government's Bio-Circular-Green model and Plant-Based Food Roadmap are pushing manufacturers toward resource efficiency and cleaner production.

Thailand is investing heavily as a global hub for plant‑based foods while simultaneously pursuing ambitious sustainability objectives. The national Plant‑Based