By Libby George
LAGOS, Feb 6 (Reuters) - When Nigerian chef Olasore Osidele
became a vegan six years ago, people warned him that cutting out
meat was questioning God's plan.
"I don't want to harm any animal," he said, but some
Christians find not eating meat "almost religiously offensive".
Osidele, 32, said that while many Nigerians still view
eating meat as a status symbol, and indeed part of God's plan,
some are reconsidering.
In the United States and Europe, meat replacement proteins
are now big business. Beyond Meat BYND.O is worth nearly $7
billion and Burger King BKCBK.UL and McDonald's MCD.N are
offering or testing meat replacements.
In Nigeria, none of the major restaurant chains offer meat
substitutes and meat consumption is growing, according to the UN
Food and Agriculture Organization. A survey by market research
company Street Bees said just 14% of Nigerians were confident
they could give up meat.
But there are green shoots. Activists say Nigerians are
becoming more health conscious. Clashes between cattle herders
and farmers in central Nigeria's "Middle Belt" are drawing
attention to the impact of beef production. And companies are
creating affordable meat replacements.
In the leafy garden of the Veggie Victory restaurant in
Lagos, two dozen people gathered on a steamy Saturday evening to
eat vegan food and exchange recipes.
Restaurant owner Bola Adeyanju, 40, said she had gone from
giving away food in 2013 to sceptical passers-by to delivering
dozens of meals daily to paying customers.
Adeyanju and her husband created an affordable soy-based
meat substitute called Vegetarian Chunks, designed to mimic
local favourites such as suya – a spicy, chewy barbecue – and
nkwobi, a dish usually made with cow leg.
They are now selling thousands of packs a month for 600
naira ($2) each across the country.
"People are really curious about a healthy lifestyle, and
people are curious about climate change," she said.
With a population of 200 million, Nigeria is attracting
attention. Nestle SA NESN.S said last month it is testing
affordable meat replacements for developing markets, where the
global food company generates 42% of sales.
Nigeria's Chi Farms Limited recently began marketing its own
veggie burger, which it aims to sell for less than chicken or
beef. The factory is ready to produce up to 50,000 patties per
month.
"We're using locally available raw materials," said Dr
Johannes Flosbach, general manager at Chi Farms. "It's not only
the idea of having a trend, but it's contributing to food
security."
(Additonal reporting by Silke Koltrowitz in Zurich; Editing by
Giles Elgood)