McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) will finally offer a plant-based burger next year, but rather than go with one of the established leaders such as Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) or Impossible Foods, the fast-food giant is developing its own. The restaurant chain revealed the development during its third-quarter earnings conference call, with USA Today reporting the beef patty alternative will launch next year in several test markets around the globe. Image source: Getty Images. Planting seeds of change Called the McPlant, it could be the first of many plant-based meat alternatives that appear on McDonald's menu, as McDonald's international president Ian Borden told investors Monday, "In the future, McPlant could extend across a line of plant-based products including burgers, chicken-substitutes and breakfast sandwiches." McDonald's also revealed it will have a response to the crispy chicken sandwich from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen that has been a cultural phenomenon, driving sales of the Restaurant Brands International chain skyward. Even before the pandemic, consumers would line up around the block to buy one. The chicken sandwich has been under development for over a year as franchisees clamored for the burger joint to come out with its own version to help ride the wave. News of the McPlant, though, sent shares of Beyond Meat falling. The faux-meat maker had a relationship with McDonald's during tests for plant-based burgers, and last month it was rumored they would partner again for sales in certain overseas markets. Those hopes seem to be dashed after Borden was quoted as saying, "McPlant is crafted exclusively for McDonald's, by McDonald's." Its name may not sound like something you'd want to sink your teeth into, but the McPlant means McDonald's is finally putting down roots in the alternative protein space. 10 stocks we like better than McDonald'sWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and McDonald's wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2020 Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Beyond Meat, Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source