Enhancing Food Safety with Smart Lab-Based Alternative Proteins

An increase in global food production is required to meet the food demands of the population which is expected to be 10 million by 2050. Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, new crop diseases, decrease in land availability, etc. have stunted the agricultural growth curve. This year's theme for World Food Safety Day “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected” encourages us to have novel interdisciplinary alternative protein innovations that can replace, modify, or make similar/ better substitutes that can be commercially scaled up to meet food security efficiently and sustainably.

Alternative protein, an innovation started to address the growing consumer requirements, increasing antibiotic resistance, and prevention of transmission of zoonotic diseases, aims to create protein energy sources that are cost-effective and easily available while retaining the sensorial and nutritional characteristics of conventional meat. Alternative proteins, now represent an important dietary element fundamental to health and offer prospective candidates sustainably meeting nutritional needs. It is also projected as a key solution to sustainable food solutions resulting from intense climate crises and is no longer a science fiction movie but a reality gaining momentum in consumer choice as a result of growing awareness about lab-grown meat. Any innovation in the competitive global food market needs to be introduced based on the choice of consumers, ethical preferences, and health considerations. Consumers are adapted to welcome and explore alternative protein sources based on health awareness, environmental concerns, and animal welfare.

Being new entrants in the market, the cost of cultivated meat is relatively on a higher end compared to its conventional counterpart, making it less appealing to the public. Once the product is made affordable, an accessibility path targeting a wide range of customers will be opened. Major challenges that stand as roadblocks include production technologies, raw material sourcing, mimicking the sensorial and organoleptic properties to please consumer perception, regulatory approvals, packaging, distribution, competition, etc., playing a pivotal role in the expansion of the alternate protein industry.

Scalability while retaining the taste, texture, and nutritive values on par with conventional meat is getting innovated day by day. Research improvements focussing on cutting down cost of production without compromising on quality of meat should be promoted. Media costs minimize the use of growth factors, optimizing filtration processes and improving cell numbers through scalability, increasing output per batch. Bulk purchasing of key media ingredients, increased batches, error-free bioreactors, and streamlining of utilities required will assist in the smooth movement of small-scale production to large scale thereby reducing costs. Modular factories based on scalable capacities that can be rapidly built and located as per access to raw materials are also considered good options for making the process affordable. Capital investments would help in extensive scalable production, with improved product dimensions as per the consumer needs, thereby increasing wider consumer reach Regulatory approvals are a major step in commercialized market entry for these innovative products and increase greater acceptance. A detailed guideline framework would introduce the manufacturers to production regulations, safety assessments, cold chain distribution, and proper labeling and enable international expansion of alternative proteins. ?The accessibility of alternative proteins can also be increased by making them available in retail quantities at supermarkets and food outlets.

Cellular agriculture research incorporating 3-D bioprinting and extension of shelf life using advanced phosphates has taken the concept leaps ahead. Production areas combining AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) have significantly contributed in waste reducing process. A deeper understanding of consumer trends would allow in optimizing products based on inventory and incorporating customization thereby allowing a waste reduction process. As the field of alternative protein production is relatively new and does not follow a known norm, it needs a multidisciplinary approach conjoining new technologies and partnerships to come up with innovations (through process optimization, nutrient formulations, incorporation of sensorial and organoleptic properties, increasing shelf life) that would promote development and distribution of the final product and achieve market entry. Trade shows showcasing the latest research and innovations, can increase the accessibility in this field to consumers.

USFDA approval for lab-grown meat has accelerated the growth of the robust alternative protein industry and proven its capability to introduce positive changes in the food system by creating sustainable protein sources for a growing population. Though it may take years for the cost of alternative protein sources to come down to their conventional counterpart, it promises an evolution to shape the future of innovative food. Many innovative processes cannot replicate the same outcome on an industrial scale production due to improper upscaling aspects, many a times leading to financial loses.

DDE with its wide experience in the scale-up industry and dynamic innovation urge, can devise solutions effectively for production of affordable alternative proteins by providing bioreactors that improves process optimisation, lowering the media costs and batch time. Robust and reliable process engineering with effective automation, provided by us, can be crucial parameters in cost reduction. The alternative protein market is in its infancy but let us set our feet forward to face the challenges and embrace this food security movement that has significant environmental impacts and sustainability goals while providing wellness.

Protein Evolution World Health Organization (WHO) Health Pulse Point Ali Khademhosseini World Food Programme World Food Forum World Food India World Investment Forum The Future of Protein Production The Future of Protein Summit Future Protein Solutions The Good Food Institute India Food & Beverages Reports- MarkNtel Fortune Business Insights? National Clean Energy Summit 7.0 United Nations Volunteers United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Sustainable Innovators Group Sustainable Business Alliance of India Sustainable Impact Summit Smart Protein Project The Chennai Smart Protein Project Annual International Scientific and Practical Conference for Young Scientists Operon Strategist|Medical Device Project Consultant|CE MarkConsultant | USFDA | FDA Consultant

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