Insights

Finding an intersection between environmental impact, human health, and animal stewardship, alternative proteins and plant-based substitutes for meat, seafood, and dairy are having a major impact on a shifting dietary revolution. 

At the center of the food industry transformation are plant-based foods which have gone from tofu and tempeh to include a wide array of 20,000 species of edible plants grown around the world. Plant-based meat products saw 75% growth in 2020 alone with 57% of all US households purchasing plant-based products.

Beyond the traditional fermentation used in familiar foods, like yogurt and sauerkraut, biomass or microbial fermentation is constructing the next level of alternative and complementary food products singularly and in conjunction with other alternative protein products. Using synthetic biology, or precision fermentation, microorganisms are able to produce substances that mimic elements produced by animals, such as cheese and even human breast milk.

A quickly expanding industry is taking shape in the food sector using cellular agriculture and cell-based technology. Safely harvested cells from plants, animals, and fish are being cultivated to produce food that is healthy and sustainable and could provide answers to the challenges of feeding the world’s growing population.