Watch our webinar: Future of Food - beyond the hype: what more do businesses need to be doing to achieve a sustainable, nutritious and affordable protein system? 

The Protein system is changing. With the massive rise in interest in plant-based foods, it is clear that how we produce and consume protein has entered the public consciousness. We are beginning to understand the connection between the urgent need to respond to the climate crisis and the impact our diets can have on the planet. With momentum growing, businesses are changing, and they have a huge potential to deliver the transformation. Our 2019 report explored the public commitments of 132 of the world’s leading food companies and asked: 

Will the current trajectory of business action deliver sustainable protein in time?

Read the executive summary here

Read the full report here

The food industry response
There is more awareness that our production and consumption of protein is in need of rapid transformation - from the excitement around innovative alternative protein sources to a mounting debate around the future of animal protein in our diets. 

The food industry has started to respond, expanding plant-based protein options and increasing the sustainability of meat and dairy. 

These changes are critical. The food industry lies at the intersection of major global challenges – meeting global food demand amidst dwindling natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and delivering healthy, affordable and nutritious food for all. Change is gathering pace, but if we are to achieve global sustainability and nutrition goals in the next decade, the protein sector needs a system-wide and holistic transformation.

Recognising the urgency of this issue, Forum for the Future co-founded and facilitated the landmark Protein Challenge 2040 project, a unique international collaboration of food businesses and NGOs working to accelerate action toward a sustainable protein system.

Protein Challenge 2040

Report findings and solutions

The 2019 Future of Food report examined the public sustainability commitments from 132 of the world’s largest and most influential food businesses, from meat and dairy producers to high-street retailers and foodservice providers. 

The report found that:

• While there is a widespread shift in the US and Europe towards a more diverse protein offering, these initiatives are often fragmented and isolated, without significant action to reformulate mainstream product ranges or to prioritise sustainable protein within business models
• Amidst concurrent growth in meat sales, there is also little action to meet the need to overhaul animal feed production within the meat, dairy and fish sectors.

The report called for integrated protein strategies and laid out a five-point action plan to drive truly transformative change in the 2020s, a pivotal decade for the sustainability movement.

More information

Explore the work of the Protein Challenge 2040 to inform your ambitions and actions for a sustainable future for protein.

Within the Challenge, the Feed Compass Collaboration focused on transforming animal feed sustainability. The Rebalancing Diets Collaboration focused on the role of chefs and foodservice companies, suppliers and retailers in rebalancing protein consumption.

For more information or to discuss opportunities for collaboration building on Protein Challenge 2040, contact our Food team.

Contact our Food team

Stay up-to-date

Visit our Futures Centre to keep track of trends, insights and opportunities for the protein sector.

Read the executive summary here

Read the full report here