Meat Me for Supper? Envisioning the Future of Protein Food

Abstract

This report investigates future challenges associated with protein food and explores two proposed mitigation strategies for overcoming them: dietary change and cultivated meat. Utilizing IMPACT, this report assesses the food security dimensions of availability and economic access for protein food relative to the EAT-Lancet recommendations, projected to 2050, under various shared socioeconomic pathways. This work reveals a near universal over-supply of red meat as well as an under-supply in plant protein across UN member states, even as animal sources of protein far exceed their plant counterparts on a price per kilocalorie basis. Additionally, this report conducts a high level SWOT analysis of key issues in cultivated meat, finding that the technology platform could deliver meaningful environmental and health benefits, but without overcoming important technical and political barriers, will remain unavailable and inaccessible for the foreseeable future. Together, these findings offer insights for food and agricultural policymakers interested in planning and preparing for protein-related issues in the next quarter-century. This report concludes with policy recommendations, intended primarily for the United States.