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A scientific paper published in Front. Sustain. Food Syst. addresses the social and economic opportunities and challenges of cultured and plant-based meat for rural producers. According to this research, cellular agriculture offers "opportunities such as growing crops as ingredients for feedstock for cultured meat; raising animals for genetic material for cultured meat; producing cultured meat in bioreactors at the farm level; transitioning into new sectors; new market opportunities for blended and hybrid animal- and alt-meat products; and new value around regenerative or high-animal welfare farming." Some challenges are also identified, with possible "loss of livelihood or income for ranchers and livestock producers and for farmers growing crops for animal feed; barriers to transitioning into emerging alt-meat sectors; and the possibility of exclusion from those sectors." Some farmers already see the potential of cellular agriculture. For instance, Illtud Dunsford comes from a long line of farmers in Wales and established his cultured meat company Cellular Agriculture Ltd in 2016.[317]

Harvesting the future – opportunities for farmers in alternative proteins

Supporting farmers to future-proof their business

Around the world, consumer food preferences are undergoing a significant shift. The last few years have seen exponential interest in sustainable alternative proteins1– including plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultivated ingredients.

Across Europe, an impressive 40% of consumers now identify as flexitarian, pescetarian, vegetarian, or vegan, and are actively reducing their consumption of animal-based products.2 In terms of industry growth, the alternative protein market is estimated to reach USD 30 billion by 2030, expanding at an impressive CAGR of 10.4% between 2024-2030.3 By 2035, some analysts predict that alt-proteins will represent 10-45% of the global protein market, and 25%-50% by 2050.4

Against this backdrop, traditional animal agriculture is facing several challenges: economic pressures from increasing intensification and consolidation,5 climate change, and reduced consumer demand for conventional animal-based products. Farms file for bankruptcy daily, driven to collapse by flawed subsidy systems and competition from intensive, feedlot-driven megafarms.6 Between 2003 and 2019, for example, the number of dairy farms in the US plummeted by 50%.

Opportunities in alternative proteins Accessing new markets

Farmers can tap into the growing market for alternative proteins, both locally and globally. This includes supplying ingredients to food manufacturers, selling plant-based foods directly to consumers through farmers’ markets or online platforms, or exporting to regions with increasing demand for alternative protein ingredients or products.

Plant-based: Recent surveys show that consumers intend to increase their consumption of plant-based foods in the years ahead. For example, 53% of Europeans intend to increase their consumption of legumes, while 40% intend to consume more plant-based alternatives in the next six months, underscoring the growing acceptance of plant-based options in Europe.

Fungi and fermented proteins: Fungi and fermented proteins are rapidly gaining market share and consumer acceptance.8 Existing farm infrastructure from animal agriculture could be retrofitted with equipment to grow fungi or run fermentation technologies – de-commissioned barns could be used for fungi agriculture. While this would require significant capital expenditure, it also opens up the potential for substantial long-term benefits and profitability within these growing segments.

Cultivated meat and dairy: Cultivated products appeal to a growing segment of consumers concerned about animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and food safety. By getting involved in cellular agriculture, farmers can cater to the preferences of these consumers, thereby expanding their customer base and enhancing their reputation.

How alternative proteins expand opportunities for farmers and agriculture

https://gfi.org/resource/alternative-proteins-for-farmers-and-agriculture/

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