Dubai: The formation of an international Arabic-speaking Vegetarian Association was announced at the 42nd International Vegetarian Union’s Vegfest taking place over three days starting on Tuesday.
“We have right now over 9,000 Arabic-speaking vegetarians spread around the world who connect with us online,” said Sandhya Prakash, the founder of the Middle East Vegetarian chapter based in Dubai.
Dr Marly Winckler, the Chair for the IVU, felt that the Arabic language was a valuable link to connect all like-minded people.
“These people spread worldwide can then communicate, exchange recipes, have online discussions and it will help them keep in touch with each other,” she said about the proposal which will take the better part of a year to come to fruition.
The VegFest includes presentations on the benefits of supporting natural, organic, raw, local, slow, and gluten-free foods which many delegates felt was the best option to cut back on calories and promote a healthy lifestyle that would curb obesity and diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Around 300 global food industry experts, medical and environment experts, students, teachers, women and chefs are attending the three-day VegFest.