Can Alternative Foods Provide Nutritious Supplements On Empty Plates?
From the international space station to the farm fields in your backyard, agriculturists and lab scientists are trying every trick in their books to sow and grow vegetation to feed astronauts roving in orbit or earthlings with healthy intakes as their basic source of sustenance.
Due to the ever-increasing population— which is inflating like a balloon on the bulging surface of the blue planet — and supply-chain disruption in the wake of devastating wars, researchers and nutritionists are looking for alternative food sources like seaweed and plant-based protein to keep the food chain undisturbed.
Grains, legumes and nuts derived from plants, mushrooms from fungus, algae, insects, woody plants and even cultured (lab-grown) meat, meat analogues or mock/imitation meat that replaces the chief ingredient with anything but the meat itself could emerge as key substitutes in absence of adequate food to satiate our hunger.
The market looks volatile now as cultivators make a huge effort to scavenge enough forage from the unconventional sources scattered in different parts of the earth to assuage the food crisis that’s looming large. While food corporations in the form of government undertakings and food techies at their plants get busy scouring comprehensive methods to utilise, process and manufacture the fodder into edible fare on the plates in the right manner and proportion to salvage the lurking food insecurity.
Be it soil produce or hydroponic and aeroponic plants, growers and harvesters are leaving no stone unturned to brainstorm, experiment and explore distinctive ways to procure food crops out of nowhere. In all these technological advancements, certain factors like retaining the nutritional value, exerting zero negative impact on the environment with sustainable grub hubs, having no geopolitical conflict and creating socioeconomic stability should be kept in mind.
Alternative Sources Of Sustenance
There are alternative food sources that could be naturally obtained from the earth’s surface to keep the food cycle uninterrupted. “Alternative food elements like dried powder derived from fresh leaves can contain up to 30 per cent protein. Besides, several aquatic weed species, such as duckweed, are superfoods that are widely consumed in Asia owing to their high protein content and are gaining a lot of attention as a vital agent of human nutrition,” said Swathi Gopalakrishan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Protivore, an IIM Bangalore startup and plant-based meat company.
She added that insects like crickets and mealworms are rich in protein and may be obtained with minimal environmental impact. Likewise, focus should be laid on converting underutilised crops into value-added products. Fungi and mushrooms produced from organic waste constitute another viable option for the environment. Plant-based proteins like legumes and nuts reduce the cost of rearing livestock traditionally. Canola, hemp and other replacements as protein sources are winning massive popularity.”
Deepti Sharma, Director, Multifit Gym Chain suggested, "It's crucial to explore alternative food sources that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.” She explained that plant-based options namely legumes, grains and vegetables are excellent choices to find the food chain intact. Additionally, incorporating locally sourced and seasonal produce can lower the ecological footprint associated with food production.
“Embracing seaweeds, plant-based proteins and fungi might ensure a sustainable food chain, respecting the planet's balance,” opined chef and entrepreneur Harish Closepet, also known as Harry's Lunchbox.
Begging to disagree with the rest, Mugdha Pradhan, CEO and Founder, iThrive, a Pune-based health and wellness startup stated, “We don’t really require alternative food sources. What we have grown naturally on our soil, plus the animals and plants we find in our natural ecosystems around us are sufficient to meet the needs of everyone if we manage our resources well.”
Pradhan continued that monocropping (the practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same land like maize, soybeans and wheat as common examples) and other modern industrial farming methods have ruined our tillable terra firma and its natural microbiome (the community of microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria and viruses that exists in a particular environment) diversity as well as mineral reserves.
Pradhan added there is a major propaganda in the mainstream media today, which misconstrues meat hurting human health and the surrounding environment. And that’s why, there is a loud clamour for alternative protein sources which is uncalled for. When grown naturally and sustainably, animal foods are beneficial to health and necessary to maintain the ecological balance.”
Emphasising the essential quality of ruminant animals, Pradhan advocated that these creatures can help grow back pastures from the barren lands and aid in proper functioning of the grassland ecosystems to boost the cycling of nutrients well. Regenerative agriculture, which involves sustainable rearing of ruminant animals, is a proven route to repair swathes of damaged and deserted lands back to lush vegetation.
In Times Of Emergencies
Amid the geopolitical crisis across the globe and the pandemic, there have always been complaints about mismanagement and disorders in the distribution chain. One wonders what alternative food grains, plant-based proteins or meat could be cultivated or artificially grown in scientific labs to address such rampant exigencies. Many cities under siege or due to random bombardment are completely crushed and levelled so much so that their lands are now neither inhabitable nor cultivable. Given such a scenario, experts told BW Businessworld that locally available or affordable food substitutes could be an ideal relief for the victims and the wounded to survive.
“If the transport services are thrown out of gear, it is then all the more prudent to double down on locally-grown natural foods instead of hunting for alternative foods that need to be imported or shipped from outside,” asserted Pradhan. Under such circumstances, people should reasonably do away with their dependency on outsourcing and rationally start growing their food in their orchards, kitchen gardens or organic farms, she opined.
Gopalakrishan mentioned, "With limited resources, a kitchen garden can grow a variety of crops reflecting local tastes and nutritional habits. It may include mushrooms, microgreens, sunflower, hemp, mung beans, wheatgrass, amaranth, flax seeds, et al. These alternative crops are primarily aimed at the Indian market, stressing both nutritional diversity and sustainable and easy agricultural procedures in a garden adjacent to the pantry.”
Closepet insisted that to tackle supply-chain challenges in the spate of strifes, natural calamities or the ever-rising menace of the populace, a nation must mull over patronising and promoting resilient options like quinoa, lentils and lab-grown meats, thus securing food amid global uncertainties.
Some war-ravaged countries' topographical features are completely destroyed by incessant bomb shelling. At this juncture, economists envisage how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank can help lend credit to those victimised nations to procure alternative sources of sustenance from nations that are super economic giants.
Collective Nexus Between Nations
There could be environmental, technological and geographical issues in procuring or growing alternative food sources in different parts of the world. Do countries across the globe need to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in exporting and importing such food elements on health grounds and cement the bilateral ties in the process?
“International collaboration is paramount. A MoU endorsed for ethical sourcing of alternative foods would foster bilateral ties, forge new bonds and generate innovative possibilities while addressing logistical hindrances for a healthier world,” observed Closepet.
Talking about the market size of alternative food sources in India and worldwide, Bloomberg Intelligence predicted that by 2030, the plant-based food business would be valued at USD 162 billion, accounting for 7.7 per cent of the global protein market. India’s domestic market will be worth about USD 713 million, while in a low-growth context, the same will be USD 217 million.
“So far, startups in India have introduced plant-based mince, kebabs, patties, nuggets etc. The fledgling units have hitherto developed high-end products that found takers in metropolitan areas, while the rural consumer has been visibly overlooked. The potential for plant-based meats in meeting the nutritional demands of those living in the fringes is basically still unknown,” a worried Gopalakrishan stated.
As per Global Market Insights, the alternative protein market size in 2021 totalled USD 60.45 billion. The same is projected to reach USD 193.75 billion in 2028, witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.5 per cent during the seven-year forecast period. Going by the stats of Future Market Insights, the alternative protein market had posted a decent figure of USD 76.3 billion in 2023, further anticipated to scale up to USD 423 billion by 2033.
Aswini Bajaj, finance trainer and CEO, Leveraged Growth, a niche finance-based Business Consultancy firm stated, "In India, the alternative protein market is estimated to be approximately USD 5.7 billion in 2024, while the dairy alternatives market is envisioned to be nearly USD 106.5 million in the same period. The ongoing year is expected to see the meat alternative market touching almost USD 50.9 million.”
Globally, Bajaj noted that the alternative protein space was recorded at roughly USD 75.1 billion last year, with the figure assumed to shoot up several notches above this year, while the dairy alternatives arena is likely to be around USD 32.3 billion in 2024. The meat alternative market domain is predicted to be about USD 11.4 billion in the current year.
Though it is difficult to speak of numbers but based on an understanding of the public’s food choices today, there is a paucity of acceptance regarding alternative foods, especially stuff like insects and lab-grown meat, experts noted. Pradhan mentioned, "There is, however, a demand for plant-based meat alternatives owing to the surging reputation of vegan and plant-based diets. This is due to the pervasive anti-meat campaign. Nonetheless, we need to educate people that animal foods are also favourable to health and conducive to the environment if produced properly.”
The global market for alternative foods seems to be booming, with India's share soaring steadily on the back of a growing awareness of sustainable choices, claimed Closepet.
Funds For Food Substitutes To Fill In The Gaps
More often than not it is ubiquitously assessed whether the central administration of every nation should formulate an economic policy and earmark a fund for accessing and growing alternative foods to fulfill the current need to feed billions of mouths and be future-ready as well.
“Well, instead of focusing on alternative foods, the government should concentrate on improving farming practices to incorporate more sustainable and organic options,” recommended Pradhan. “They should rather encourage reformative agriculture. This will help improve the quality of the soil and make our crops healthier. Compared to the USA, the Indian farmers have done better to ward off big chemical corporations like Monsanto from infiltrating their indigenous practices. That is why the Indian soil is still better in quality,” she further stated.
Gopalakrishan conceded that the central seat of power in every country must craft comprehensive economic policies and allocate funds to the development of alternative foods, with the spotlight imperatively falling on the flourishing plant-based industry.
Currently, India heavily invests in the livestock sector for food security, seeing a remarkable 8 per cent CAGR over six years from 2021 to 2026. With above 35 per cent of global livestock, India ranks among the top methane emitters, contributing to 14.5 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Reserving funds for growing alternative foods would depend on various factors, including the country's specific needs, resources and priorities. “However, it is indisputable that recognising the importance of sustainable and alternative food sources is a positive step for future resilience,” perceived Bajaj.
For policies for alternative foods, there is a need for economically strong nations to consider funding and promoting research, development and production of alternative foods. Experts feel that the food ministry of every nation’s cabinet can play an instrumental role in this context by framing policies and schemes that could drive growth in the alternative food industry.
“This may include drafting regulatory policies that springboard startups, offering grants and sponsoring this sector specifically, plus facilitating or funding research in the domain. This way, the food department might contribute to mitigating any food security threat, greenhouse gas emissions and other prevalent crises,” proposed Gopalakrishan.
A country’s authoritative system may extend its research and development (R&D) support in alternative food technologies, offered Bajaj. Over time, the organic farming practice that was once prevalent on the Indian subcontinent gradually got replaced by pesticides and insecticides, supposedly to benefit the users. However, considering the health impact of such chemicals, the cabinet’s role in ensuring food safety and quality standards for alternative food products becomes critical.
"It may also collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address food security challenges and raise awareness by educating the public on the benefits of alternative foods for health and the environment,” Bajaj added.
Can G-20 countries or the participating nations at COP summits, which are better equipped, also extend a helping hand in doling out alternative food items to these crippled countries? “Definitely, but before disbursing the funds, all nations must contemplate the futility of wars and prevent such a large-scale crisis, which is often irreparable. G-20 nations should look to provide humanitarian aid and resources to the affected countries,” Bajaj suggested.
Role Of The Food Industry
It is interesting to know if restaurants and hotels also ought to be ethically responsible in preparing dishes with locally available alternative ingredients sourced from fungi, algae, plants, insects, microbes, etc. to cater to their customers and save on the kitchen budget.
Lab studies have shown that insects can be a nutritious food source but this holds only in a lab. Insects can also carry harmful pathogens and parasites. The chitin present in an insect’s skeletal tissue can be neurotoxic. That’s why it is always not a good idea to prescribe insects as food. Humans are not meant to eat insects by nature. It’s unnatural and we aren’t mindful of its long-term effects. Ruminant meat composes the main part of our diets ancestrally, viewed Pradhan.
Pradhan admitted that restaurants have to cater to the tastes of the public. “While there may be a very small section of the masses that are extremists and are willing to eat insects, the vast majority of consumers are but still not okay with digging into a bread made out of cricket flour,” she stated.
Closepet added that all restaurants ethically source diverse ingredients like algae and plant-based proteins, creating delectable dishes while preserving the environment and optimising their costs. Notably, industry watchers think that restaurants and hotels should indeed take moral responsibility in their culinary routines.
“Utilising locally-available alternative ingredients, including those extracted from fungi, algae, plants, insects and microbes, not only results in sustainability but also gives succour to local communities in the hour of need. Thus, eateries can offer a unique and diverse culinary experience to customers while reining in the crucial cost factor through efficient sourcing,” confirmed Sharma.
Hybrid Effect
Hybrid veggies have long been artificially produced through cross-pollination to get the best of both varieties of plants of the same species. Often researchers have been critical of this kind of food grain production as the process is opposed to open or natural pollination by birds, bees, insects, rain, winds etc. Can then hybrid output be a good alternative source of sustenance to address food insufficiency in feeding the world population, which is bursting at the seams?
“The invention of hybrid seeds was originally meant to scale up the world food production and make the crop more pest resistant. On one hand, it helped humans address the food insufficiency issue by expanding in volumes, while on the other, it affected the nutritional value that one would otherwise absorb from their food naturally," said Aniish Shah, Founder of Earth Harvests, a direct-to-consumer food brand.
Meanwhile, it’s a grim reality that researchers and scientists now observe that the food that would previously provide 80 to 90 per cent of nutritional requirements is currently reduced to 50 per cent. Despite solving the food scarcity scare, a hybrid might impact health in the long term, experts noted.
