With meat-processing workers falling victim to the coronavirus, shuttering plants and slowing supply, Americans are starting to see poorly stocked aisles where once beef and pork were plentiful, according to Bloomberg.
At the same time, the link between industrial meat production and deadly human viruses has become more widely understood.
The global crisis, in other words, is turning into a big opportunity for the plant-based protein sector.
Beyond Meat, one of the bigger names in food technology, saw its shares jump 49% last month. Meanwhile, venture capitalists have been pouring money into smaller companies, some focused on lab-grown meat analogues as well as plant-based substitutes. In mid-April, U.S. sales of these products were double that of the same period last year.
