The Secret Lives of Alternative Proteins

Have you ever recoiled at the thought of eating insects, plant based or lab grown meat? You would not be the first person to do so. Alternative meat sources are often stigmatized because they diverge from traditional Western meat practices. However, meat alternatives can provide wide-spread, sustainable protein options that use more efficient farming practices. According to a recent study published in Global Food Security on a variety of protein options, livestock require the most land for rearing, but they have the lowest protein and calorific yield (see graphs below) [1]. However, alternative protein options can provide higher protein yields while requiring fewer economic and environmental inputs. In the study, lead author Peter Alexander focuses his analysis on insects, cultured meat, imitation meat, and aquaculture.

It is imperative to adopt these new protein options because livestock are currently responsible for 12% of human-related green-house gas emissions [2]. These alternative meat options provide a way to mass produce the protein resources that the world demands while reducing carbon emissions and land usage [3].