In meat-loving South Africa, climate concerns whet appetite for veggie burgers

Plant-based polony used as an alternative or meat substitute is placed on the table before being labelled at meat processor Feinschmecker, in Germiston, in the East Rand region of Johannesburg, South Africa, October 11, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

In South Africa, a country where 'braai' all-day barbecuing is a national pastime, plant-based substitutes are making surprising inroads despite a deep cultural love of meat and hostility from the regulator.

That could be heartening for climate scientists, who say shifting diets from emissions-heavy meat and dairy towards more plant-based foods is vital to the fight against climate change.