Are you ready to change your eating habits? In view of the climate crisis, the researchers are proposing a number of measures, including cutting out red meat and switching to alternative protein foods. Meat has been a source of protein in developed markets for many years, but consumer interest in more sustainable foods has grown in recent years. And if on the territory of our country so far not so many people have given up meat, in Europe and the United States there are more and more vegetarians, especially among young people. At the same time, it is no secret to anyone that in 2040 the grocery basket will undergo a number of significant changes. But what alternative sources of protein exist and can they replace the meat we love so much?
In contrast to the natural changes that sooner or later must occur to our planet, with his behavior man has changed the usual course of things: the climate on Earth is changing faster than most scientists expected. This will inevitably lead to changes, most of which are not favorable. So that the number of natural disasters does not exceed all conceivable and inconceivable scales, you and I need to revise the usual way of life, including our grocery basket.
Should you give up red meat?
Scientists around the world are calling for less red meat, but it's not just climate change. Researchers reasonably believe that high meat consumption is correlated with the development of cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases. Thus, the results of a study published in the International Journal of Cancer indicate an increased risk of developing breast cancer in women. During the study, scientists monitored the health of 42 thousand subjects for 7.6 years. During the observation period, 1536 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed. Women who ate red meat more often had a 23% higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who ate plant-based foods or ate less pork and beef. And vice versa,high consumption of poultry meat is associated with a 15% lower risk of breast cancer. The researchers concluded that red meat is a likely carcinogen.
A number of previous studies have also found a correlation with red meat consumption and the development of many diseases. The UK Department of Health recommends that anyone who eats more than 90 grams of red or processed meat per day should reduce their intake to 70 grams or less due to the association with bowel cancer. Note that processed meats include sausages, bacon and ham. For example, the result of a five-year study in which half a million men and women enrolled in the British research project Biobank took part, showed that those who ate an average of 76 grams of red or processed meat per day, the risk of developing intestinal cancer was 20% higher. compared to those who averaged 21g per day.
And yet another study suggests that red meat increases the risk of heart disease. More than 120 thousand people took part in the study. In the course of the work, scientists analyzed data from 37,698 men from 1986 to 2008 and 83,644 women from 1980 to 2008. The results showed that adding an extra amount of unprocessed red meat to someone's daily diet increased the risk of death by 13%, cardiovascular disease by 18%, and cancer death by 10%. Rates for processed meat were higher - 20% for all deaths, 21% for deaths from heart problems, and 16% for cancer deaths. Researchers have suggested that the saturated fat of red meat may be the cause of heart disease, and sodium,used in processed meats may have a negative effect on blood pressure.
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However, in 2019, a study was published in the Annals of internal medicine magazine, the results of which state that red meat does not pose a threat to health. A group of scientists conducted a meta-analysis of 118 scientific articles and concluded that the effect of red meat on mortality rates and the development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases is negligible. The new analyzes are some of the largest such assessments ever undertaken and could influence future nutritional recommendations. In many ways, this work raises uncomfortable questions about dietary guidelines and nutritional research, and what standards should be followed in such studies. Nevertheless, the work of scientists was instantly sharply criticized. American Heart Association,The American Cancer Society and other organizations have questioned the findings and the journal itself that published the work. So, in a statement scientists from Harvard said that the findings "damage the credibility of nutritional science and undermine public confidence in scientific research."
In general, the World Health Organization advises to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and regular exercise. And yet, regardless of our desires, the increase in consumption of red meat causes serious harm to the environment. Thus, the results of numerous studies, including reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), indicate that the less meat humanity consumes, the better for the environment. And since the consumption of meat, one way or another, will have to be reduced, it is logical that it needs replacement.
Producers battle
The work on the transition to alternative proteins is in full swing today. However, the introduction of new technologies and ingredients is often an attempt by manufacturing companies to strengthen their place in the market. The point is that innovative food companies can reflect the consumer experience of eating meat much more. Running social media ad campaigns in parallel helps manufacturers gain traction. Beyond Meat recently announced it is entering the market for alternative proteins. According to Vedomosti, the sale of Beyond Meat vegetable meat started in Russia on November 5, and numerous fast food chains announced deals with this producer of alternative proteins. The result is vegetarian options for popular meats.
It's easy to explain the growing number of deals with plant-based meat producers - while total consumption of meat-based proteins worldwide is increasing in proportion to population growth, the overall growth rate is expected to halve. According to McKinsey & Company, sales of plant foods (the largest source of alternative protein) grew by 17% in 2018, while the use of alternative protein as a food ingredient in consumer products will only grow in the future. The current market base for alternative protein is approximately $ 2.2 billion compared to the global meat market of approximately $ 1.7 trillion, making the growth rate of alternative protein companies modest. It is enough to look at the data of the leading countries producing meat products to understand that the market for alternative proteins is significantly inferior to it. In response to growing sales of meat products, industry leaders are introducing a range of products and ingredients using a variety of plant proteins such as soy and peas, new animal protein sources (insects), and biotechnology innovations (cultured meat or mushroom protein). Taking into account the competent advertising campaigns and the awareness of the world's population about the extreme climate situation, we can safely assume that the vegetable meat market has a great future. Of course, subject to a generous investment in the development of new technologies. In response to growing sales of meat products, industry leaders are introducing a range of products and ingredients using a variety of plant proteins such as soy and peas, new animal protein sources (insects), and biotechnology innovations (cultured meat or mushroom protein). Taking into account the competent advertising campaigns and the awareness of the world's population about the extreme climate situation, we can safely assume that the vegetable meat market has a great future. Of course, subject to a generous investment in the development of new technologies. In response to growing sales of meat products, industry leaders are introducing a range of products and ingredients using a variety of plant proteins such as soy and peas, new animal protein sources (insects), and biotechnology innovations (cultivated meat or mushroom protein). Taking into account the competent advertising campaigns and the awareness of the world's population about the extreme climate situation, we can safely assume that the vegetable meat market has a great future. Of course, subject to a generous investment in the development of new technologies.we can safely assume that the vegetable meat market has a great future. Of course, subject to a generous investment in the development of new technologies.we can safely assume that the vegetable meat market has a great future. Of course, subject to a generous investment in the development of new technologies.
What can replace red meat?
Alternatives are protein-rich ingredients sourced from plants, insects, fungi, or tissue cultures. Today, the most actively developing are four profiles for the production of alternative proteins:
Vegetable proteins
Plant proteins have proven themselves better than others today. They are obtained from seeds rich in protein. The most popular are soybeans, followed by peas, chickpeas, lupines, etc.
Insects
Crickets are the most common source of protein and are edible insects. In fact, some manufacturers are already grinding crickets for flour. However, at present it is impossible to isolate protein from flour, since crickets are not cheap pleasure, which significantly complicates the growth and scale of production. Other insects are more commonly used in the feed industry. Thus, according to the publication Business Insider, the market for alternative proteins derived from insects in the future will reach a turnover of $ 8 billion.
Mycoprotein
This protein source comes from molds. Mushrooms contain about 40% protein, high in fiber, have limited carbohydrates, and do not contain cholesterol.
Cultured meat
Scientists have been working on cultured meats, also known as test-tube meats, since 2013, after successfully grown in a laboratory for burgers. Cultivated meat is meat grown in the laboratory as a cell culture that has never belonged to living things. The result is muscle tissue that mimics animal muscle and has a similar protein profile.
Today, the industry leader is vegetable protein producers, in particular the previously mentioned American company Beyond Meat. The manufacturer owes some of its success to generous investors, including Microsoft creator Bill Gates, former McDonalds CEO and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
What will we eat in 20 years?
You and I are unlikely to find ourselves in the situation illustrated in one of the last episodes of the animated series "South Park", in which all school (and not only) canteens in the United States began to massively purchase vegetable meat, which made the producers very happy.
However, as a result of climate change, some foods will simply cease to exist in 20, 30 and 40 years. Climate change and pollution are having devastating effects on the soil, and therefore on plants, according to a study published in Science Advances. We recently told you about microplastics in soil, which causes earthworms to lose mass, which threatens ecosystems. All these problems, in turn, can adversely affect the cultivation of crops. According to Amanda Little, author of The Fate of Food. What will we eat in a new, hot world”, in the future the most delicious food and drinks, including coffee, beer, bananas and chocolate, will disappear.
Also of serious concern is the fate of fisheries, which are being constrained by climate change, threatening a critical component of the world's diet. As temperatures rise, the fish population is predicted to rapidly decline and even disappear in some regions, especially in the tropics. After examining the planet's interconnected network of oceans and ice landscapes, scientists have unveiled a series of gloomy predictions about the chaotic impacts of climate change on the seas, oceans and ecosystems that depend on the inhabitants of the deep sea, according to the third major IPCC report, published in September.
Thus, it is rather difficult to get a complete picture of the 2040 food basket today. As well as predicting the future in general. However, advances in technology and the switch to plant-based meats can make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change, possibly saving coffee or bananas. What do you think we will eat in the future?
Author: Lyubov Sokovikova
