The report discusses the land conservation potential associated with the adoption of alternative proteins across the globe. Significant growth in demand for alternative protein stems from increasing meat consumption coupled with innovative food technologies and changing consumer behaviour. Adoption of the products is crucial for the reduction of negative impacts that our food system places on the environment.

Alternatives are protein-rich products sourced from other than a live animal.  They encompass plant- and microbial-based, insects and cultivated foods.

Plant-based. For plant-based meat analogues, the production process is considerably faster than rearing animals and less resource intensive. Plant-based options are currently commercially available and are priced slightly higher than their respective benchmark meats.

Microbial-based. The main sources of protein are microalgae and fungi.  Due to specific conditions of the algae growing process, they can be harvested several times a week while requiring less freshwater. Although both fungi- and algae-based proteins have not attracted similar attention from investors compared to plant-based start-ups, one mycoprotein start-up still managed to raise US $23 million.

Insects. The production system of insect-based food is associated with using fewer resources and a smaller carbon footprint. Insect-based food products are available on the market, meanwhile ticket sizes are significantly smaller for start-ups in this space, ranging from US $20,000 to US $5 million.

Cultivated Meats. The production process is based on growing only the parts of meat that are consumed. The effects of producing cultivated meats on the environment are not clear yet as it is still in the experimental stage. Cultivated meat start-ups globally managed to raise a total of US $73 million in 2018.

Land use impact of meat hinges on a range of factors: the type of meat consumed; the amount of meat consumed per person; and the number of people eating meat. Europe has the lowest land use profile while Africa’s land use profile is double the global average due to preferences to beef and lamb, two of the most resource-intensive meats.

Meat consumption per capita depends on traditional meat consumption patterns. Asia and Africa have low per capita figures as meat is not the main dish in their cuisines. Meat consumption in Asia is expected to grow with improved wealth and changing preferences.

The size of the alternative proteins market may be estimated by land savings from switching to alternatives.  According to AT Kearney’s projections, land savings of approximately 8.3 million km2 could be achieved by 2030.

An alternative approach is to estimate the volume of meat and alternative protein consumption based on reported intentions to replace meals with alternative proteins. If consumers around the world replace meat in 7.5 meals a month with alternative proteins estimated land saved by 2025 and 2030 will be 2.0 and 2.8 million km2 respectively.

Asia’s effect on land used is significant as the region is responsible for the majority of meat demand, bringing estimated land saving up by 30%.

Should Asia switch to alternatives, land savings from the corresponding reduction in meat consumption will be potentially more significant.

1. Alternative protein products might bring environmental benefits while facing challenges in adoption worldwide.
2. Sufficient quality of the products and competitive prices are crucial in incorporating alternatives into people's everyday diets.
3. Integration of alternative protein products into the daily diets of Asians depends on a range of factors, from the accessibility of alternative protein products via food service providers to expanding environmentally conscious lifestyle movement.
4. Current dietary consumption trends risk depleting natural resources while exacerbating climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
5. The life cycle assessments of some leading alternative protein products have shown over 95% savings in land and water inputs, as well as significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, relative to comparable meats.
6. A recommended sustainability diet includes no more than 6% of daily protein intake to be from animal-based sources.
7. Cost and taste are the common hurdles that alternative proteins face to be competitive in a mass market.
8. The adoption of alternative proteins is viewed as a two-staged process, an initial period with a slow growth rate followed by a relatively higher growth rate after hitting an inflection point.
   
9. The size of the alternative proteins market is expected to rise to US $392 billion in 2030, accounting for 28% of the combined market.