EIT Food’s Protein Diversification Think Tank has published a white paper that outlines the need to engage farmers and stakeholders in protein diversification, in order to transition to more sustainable agriculture systems.
The Protein Diversification For Future-Fit Farming paper followed a series of roundtables that incorporated the views of stakeholders across the food supply chain.
‘Pressing challenges’
‘Farming must evolve in response to the pressing challenges posed by rising geopolitical tensions, the health and obesity crisis, climate change and others, which have put matters like food security, resilience, affordability or secure supply chains back on the table,’ EIT Food said. ‘To thrive in this new landscape, farmers and other food system actors need to consider adopting practices aligned with the principles of protein diversification and regenerative agriculture.’
The whitepaper is positioned as a ‘starting point’ for the farming industry to embrace protein diversification, emphasising the need to fully and meaningfully include farmers in the transition.
Among its recommendations are the need to establish a narrative around protein diversification and opportunities for farmers; development of a bank of case studies to demonstrate viable paths of shifting to new business models and encourage farmers to make that shift; and investment in further research and support at the intersection of farming and protein diversification.
The report identifies communication as a significant barrier, with a need to establish a unified narrative around protein diversification, presenting diversification not as a restrictive measure, but rather as an opportunity to achieve resilience, economic viability, and sustainability in farming.
Triptych model
EIT Food has also proposed a ‘triptych model’ that integrates agroecological practices, carbon co-financing, and protein diversification to create a robust framework for farming transitions.
This multi-pronged approach includes recommendations on the transition from yield- to circularity-focused models – which EIT Food says could make available 71% of current agricultural land for other purposes – as well as the implementation of biotech solutions and respecting the role and value of livestock farmers in order to explore potential benefits from this sector.
As the report notes, protein diversification enables farmers and other actors in the supply chain the opportunity to ‘diversify their income sources’.
It adds that stakeholders can ‘meet the growing demand for high-quality protein, while freeing up land for the cultivation of plant crops currently imported into the EU and ecosystem services. This opens new income opportunities for farmers and food producers while bolstering the economic and environmental sustainability of their operations, ensuring long-term competitiveness’. Read more here.
