The first applied research center (ARC) by EFKO in the Middle East was launched in Dubai. This is the next step in EFKO development in the MEG market. Dubai also hosts the headquarters of the company's innovative projects, which opened in 2022.

The company has several explanations for its interest in the United Arab Emirates. It's one of the world's logistics and geographic centers. From here, reaching consumers in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East is convenient. But most importantly, biotechnologies in this particular climate have the potential to not only provide food for local consumers but also to be competitive in other outer markets.

The first guests of the Center were members of the international organisation Imagine: Paul Polman – ex-CEO of Unilever; Mo Ibrahim – founder of the foundation supporting Africa; Virginia Villar – head of division at the World Food Program; Sarah Farley – vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Sergey Ivanov, EFKO Executive Director, is heading a project on community development strategy under Imagine. The company sees ARC as its Middle East hub, which brings together specialists from industry, science, and public organisations that care about the global food security agenda.

The event was part of the business agenda during COP28, the UN climate conference in Dubai.

ARC combines an R&D center and a biotechnology laboratory. This enables both thorough scientific research and the creation of novel formulations. In particular, it makes further expanding the range of plant-based meat and milk possible and exploring the potential of using healthy alternatives to sugar (sweet proteins) in various products.

Let us remember that EFKO was the first in the world to certify sweet protein in the UAE this year. The high interest in healthy sugar alternatives here is explained by the fact that the Middle East has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world. In addition, due to its climatic conditions, the region is highly dependent on exported agricultural products.

The construction of the Center took a little less than a year. The project is worth 2.5 million U.S. dollars.

Sergey Ivanov,
EFKO Executive Director

“Our R&D center in Moscow was established as a state-of-the-art kitchen of the future and the main workshop of the company for developing new recipes, but, in addition, it also became educational outreach center. It hosts lectures, master classes and workshops. We plan to continue this practice in Dubai – to give master classes and do interviews with international experts, tastings of new signature dishes with plant-based meat and presentations of new products with sweet proteins housed by the Center. So that our Middle Eastern Center also becomes the center of exciting events related to innovation and food of the future.”