Europe Day 2023 highlights the importance of alternative-protein innovators

(4 min read)

Plant-based, fermented, and cultured proteins may offer sustainability and stability to Europe’s food system

This Europe Day (9th May 2023), ProVeg International and the EU-funded Smart Protein Project are raising awareness of the need for sustainable food production in our changing world. 

The Smart Protein Project aims to develop new alternative-protein products for humans that have a positive impact – a new form of food production and consumption.

Alt-proteins made from plants, cellular agriculture, and precision fermentation can be produced in ways that require significantly fewer resources and produce dramatically fewer greenhouse gas emissions than those produced through traditional animal agriculture. They offer us a new means of feeding our growing population and reducing crises.

Through developing alt-proteins, your business can help to transform the food system, and benefit, too. 

Why do we need sustainable food production?

In 1980 we needed ‘just’ one planet to keep up with our society’s consumption levels. Today, we need 1.5 planets; in 2030, we’ll need two planets, and in 2050, we’ll need three planets to provide enough resources,^[1] Sustainable Development Goals, (2021). United Nations. Available at: https://unric.org/en/sdg-12/. Accessed 2023-05-04. if the population reaches the anticipated 9.6 billion.

Tied to this is a growing number of global crises: 

• The COVID-19 pandemic
• Dwindling planetary natural resources
• Outbreaks of African swine fever in Europe and Asia
• An increasing number of people living in areas of food crisis – 193 million people in 53 countries/territories^[2]The Global Report on Food Crisis 2022. WPF, FSIN. Available at: https://www.wfp.org/publications/global-report-food-crises-2022. Accessed 2023-05-03.
• An increasing number of people living in areas of weather extreme – 23.5 million people in eight countries/territories^[3]The Global Report on Food Crisis 2022. WPF, FSIN. Available at: https://www.wfp.org/publications/global-report-food-crises-2022. Accessed 2023-05-03.
• An increasing number of people living in areas of people in economic shocks – 30.2 million people in 21 countries/territories^[4]The Global Report on Food Crisis 2022. WPF, FSIN. Available at: https://www.wfp.org/publications/global-report-food-crises-2022. Accessed 2023-05-03.
• A growing number of people developing obesity and diet-related conditions, like heart disease and type-2 diabetes

Why do we need to act?

The above issues not only threaten health and peace within Europe but globally. As supply chains become disjointed and resources diminish, we will see food system fragility.  

We need to engage and educate consumers on smarter, healthier, more sustainable animal-free alternatives and build a more efficient food system – one that is safe, healthy, accessible, and profitable for all. 

Europe Day 2023 is a great reminder of the need and potential for alt-protein innovators across Europe, and beyond.

How can businesses benefit?

Essentially, opportunities are up for grabs, with the potential to develop and capitalise on the skyrocketing alternative protein market – still in its infancy.

European consumers are already on board – with a recent pan-European Union (EU) survey finding that almost 40% of all EU consumers now identify as either flexitarian, vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan. While over in Germany, over 50% of consumers already identify as flexitarian!^[5] ProVeg International (2020): European consumer survey on plant-based foods. Available at: https://proveg.com/what-we-do/corporate-engagement/proveg-consumer-survey-report-download/. Accessed … Continue reading Consumers are ready to shift to more sustainable foods and eat less meat and dairy. 

Market growth reflects this – sales of plant-based foods grew by 21% between 2020 and 2022 to reach a significant €5.8 billion across Europe.^[6] Market Insights on European Plant-Based Sales (20232). GFI Europe. Available at: https://gfieurope.org/market-insights-on-european-plant-based-sales-2020-2022/. Accessed 2023-05-04. The future is also promising, with experts predicting category growth to continue on its upward trajectory, with further expansion stimulated by the development and regulation of emerging alternative protein categories like precision fermentation and cellular agriculture.

By developing alternative proteins, your business will help to shape a sustainable food production system to support the future of Europe, and the world beyond. 

Getting involved now will mean that your company will be at the forefront of an innovative industry that’s likely to lead to future global economic growth and security.