Today, November 1st, is World Vegan Day. Vegans strictly abstain from all animal products -- from food to clothing -- and while studies show this practice has been on the rise in many Western countries, it's been an integral part of many cultures in Asia for centuries. For instance, in Indonesia, tempeh -- a type of fermented soybean cake -- has been a staple in the country for hundreds of years. CGTN's Silkina Ahluwalia visited a village in Jakarta which specializes in its production and she found out why it's gaining in popularity.

This is where soybean cakes are born. Known as tempeh in Indonesia, these cakes are made in a unique way by fermenting soy. Suparman is a resident in this neighborhood that many call "Tempeh Village". More than one thousand households here produce tempeh that provides at least a third of Jakarta's supply.

SUPARMAN LOCAL TEMPEH PRODUCER "I have been making tempeh for 30 years. It is a healthy source of nutrients, even better than eating meat or eggs. It is not only delicious and healthy but it is extremely affordable as well and buying tempeh here helps to support the local economy of this area."

In Indonesia, tofu and tempeh are perhaps the epitome of a simple meal in many households. It's considered a versatile ingredient, with endless ways of cooking it. Unlike its popular counterpart tofu, tempeh has a meatier texture, making it a suitable alternative to meat in a vegetarian or vegan diet. Alden has been vegan for four years. He does not eat any animal products including dairy, eggs and honey.

ALDEN VEGAN ACTIVIST "It's the future. As I said the planet cannot sustain animal agriculture for much longer. It's unsustainable and because of the rise of information. We are in the Information Age, so people are starting to learn about how harmful these industries are, about how animals suffer in these industries. If they have compassion they will learn to move towards a plant based diet and they will learn they are much healthier for them."

Alden says eating a whole foods plant-based diet has changed his life for the better. In Indonesia, veganism has been gaining momentum as hundreds of social media influencers and animal-rights activists begin to adopt the lifestyle.

SILKINA AHLUWALIA JAKARTA "Globally, veganism has become a billion-dollar industry. As consumers begin to shift towards meat substitutes, non-dairy milk and generally, a plant-powered diet, research shows the global meat-alternative market will reach more than 5 billion US dollars by 2020 and the non-dairy market is set to reach 11 billion US dollars by 2019."

Expert say the environmental impact of meat production is concerning. Animal agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas.

That makes meat alternatives like tempeh an important food to promote to help reduce the negative impacts of climate change. Silkina Ahluwalia, CGTN, Jakarta.