We will need to generate 70% more food in the next three decades than we do now. Current systems will not permit this, which is why we, as individuals, governments, and regions, must reconsider what we eat, how we produce food, and how we make safe food accessible to all.
As an example, consider Southeast Asia.
The population of Southeast Asia is rapidly increasing, and practically everyone is migrating to megacities, leaving the countryside behind. City dwellers are generally wealthier, consume more meat and industrially produced goods, and detach themselves from traditional vocations such as family farming by choosing to live in a city.
With all these factors in mind, what can we do to meet Southeast Asia's growing demand for protein? Why is it not an option to "just keep going"?
We will be unable to meet the daily protein and other nutritional requirements as specified. A healthy adult requires 0.75 grams of protein per kilogram of food each day, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Traditional protein sources, such as seafood and meat, will not be able to meet the demands of every person on the world.
Rice, as well as other grains and cereals, are common staples in Southeast Asian diets, however they are poor in useable protein. These foods are also known for having a low content of essential amino acids and minerals.
Our current protein consumption not only jeopardizes human health, but it also jeopardizes environmental health. Some of the dangers associated with current dietary consumption trends include depletion of natural resources and amplification of climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. For example, if significant changes to the way animal-based products are consumed are not achieved, freshwater may be fully depleted by 2050.
Because grazing animals emit carbon dioxide at an alarming rate, global warming is a very real possibility because of livestock husbandry. As a result, it is evident why, as the many concerns in our food systems continue to evolve, we should begin to have a flexible choice for food.
Alternative proteins have the potential to reduce the negative environmental effects of our current food system while also improving our health and well-being. Most alternative protein product quality improvements and the expansion of the conscientious consumer within the region should continue to drive market growth and associated environmental benefits.
For example, the vast youth population is growing more aware of environmental issues, and this awareness is reflected in their purchasing decisions. If Southeast Asia, as a whole, makes a decisive shift to alternative proteins, the amount of land saved from the corresponding reduction in meat consumption could be even greater. The early evidence indicate that this is a viable option.
Low initial acceptance levels of alternative protein products are still due to a lack of inexpensive mass-market costs, but this is unlikely to continue as a wave of Asian-based food tech start-ups develop goods for Southeast Asian customers.
Keep in mind that abstaining from consuming animal products will not have the necessary impact to return our protein consumption to sustainable levels, as the global demand for meat continues to rise.
Today, we must modify our systems to adapt to a variety of difficulties. Alternative protein production and consumption are just one of many food security options in Southeast Asia to meet the region's protein requirement. Needless to say, alternative proteins have a lot to offer these countries' inhabitants, which might lead to a major change toward a more sustainable future.
