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Lab-grown meat, insects, vege meat substitutes: Will they steal beef’s protein status?

Beef Central 20/11/2017

ALTERNATIVE proteins are on the verge of becoming mainstream and ‘stealing’ growth from traditional meat products as they play a growing role in meeting consumer needs and preferences, according to a recently-released global research paper.

The report, “Watch out…or they will steal your growth” examines why alternative proteins – including plant-based meat substitutes, emerging insect or algae-based products and lab-grown meat patties – are starting to successfully compete for the consumer’s ‘centre of the plate.’

Lab-grown meat burger

Report author, Rabobank global sector strategist for animal protein Justin Sherrard, says it is the ‘growth’ – rather than the current market size – of alternative proteins that is of greatest significance.

“The strong and persistent drivers supporting the current growth of alternative proteins is set to continue for at least the next five years,” his report says.

“And as such, alternative proteins have the potential to capture a material share of animal protein demand growth in the European Union, and an increased market share in the US and Canada.”

This momentum – along with increasing interest from start-up companies and investors – is also likely to see the market share of alternative proteins grow and become more established in other mature markets, including Australia, says Mr Sherrard, a Netherlands-based Australian.

“Three of the strongest demand drivers for alternative protein products are essentially those that are ‘pushing’ consumers away from regular animal protein consumption, namely concerns around health, animal welfare and sustainability,” he said.

That said, there were also a number of ‘pull drivers’, such as curiosity to try new products, convenience and personal nutrition. And with alternative protein companies adept at tapping into these drivers, Mr Sherrard says market share growth is set to rise, particularly for meat substitutes – the most mature of the alternative protein products.

There are also opportunities for insect or algae-based products, and lab-grown meat products, but in many cases inroads still need to be made to gain consumer trust and regulatory approvals.

Rabobank’s initial projection is for the market of alternative protein products to grow at a compound annual growth rate of eight percent in the EU to reach a level between 200,000 and 250,000 tonnes by 2022, the report says.

Based on these growth rates, and the outlook for relatively flat consumption growth of traditional meat products in the EU, Mr Sherrard says alternative proteins could represent one-third of total EU protein demand growth in the next five years.

In the US and Canada, alternative proteins are forecast to grow at a slightly lower rate of 6pc to reach 165,000 to 200,000t by 2022, his report says.

In terms of the projected market share for alternative proteins in the US and Canada it is a different story, however, with it expected to make up just 2pc of total protein demand growth over the next five years, largely due to the strong growth prospects for traditional protein products.

For Australia and New Zealand though, local food industries are not at the pointy end of the trend towards substitute food, says Rabobank’s general manager of Food & Agribusiness Research in Australia and New Zealand, Tim Hunt.

“Rabobank believes that domestic market penetration of alternative proteins and substitute foods in Australia and NZ will lag that in the EU and US, where current market development efforts are focused,” he said.

“Similarly, their adoption in the emerging markets that we export to are also likely to lag – with most consumers still trading-up to traditional protein products, like red meat and dairy, rather than embracing meat ‘analogues’.”

“That said, trends in Australia and NZ often eventually follow what unfolds in the EU and US, and it would be a waste not to learn from the experiences of producers in these markets.”

Emphasising ‘naturalness’

Emphasising the naturalness of traditional food products is a useful strategy, Mr Hunt says, but in many cases isn’t likely to be enough in itself.

“In line with their processing partners, meat producers need to recognise what is driving these substitutes, and do what they can to tap into the desire for healthy, sustainable and novel products delivered through a supply chain that consumers trust,” he says.

Options for industry response

On an international level, Justin Sherrard says animal protein companies servicing the EU and US markets have several options to help avoid stagnating sales, or worse, in these regions.

“These include investing in product innovation to improve the health benefits of their products, managing animal welfare, and improving the sustainability and transparency of their business operations and supply chain” he says.

“Alternative proteins are not the only answer to the question the market is asking right now. But right now they are the answer that is attracting the most attention.”

 

Source: Rabobank

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Comments

  1. Andrew Negline, 03/12/2017

    A world without slaughter seems radical, however having raised $22 million in seed capital ,Memphis meats backed by some of the worlds innovators seem well placed to take a share of the $1 trillion USD a year spent on meat, our industry needs to take a 360 degree approach to lab meat production and it’s potential impact.

    Andrew Negline
    Tilbuster Pastoral Co.

  2. Paul Butler, 21/11/2017

    Continues to amaze me that smart people believe that a large number of folks will eat crap that will endanger their health and well being.

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