Turning lesser cuts of red meat into value-added protein powders, launching new plant-based products and developing high-protein legume crops are some of the ways Australia can tap into the $13 billion global protein market, CSIRO says.
The national science agency report Protein: A roadmap for unlocking technology-led growth opportunities for Australia outlines how Australia could create up to 10,000 jobs and become a global leader.
Creating a new sustainable white-flesh fish industry and exploring other protein forms like cultivated meat and edible insects were also singled out as growth opportunities.
With an expected two billion extra people on the planet to feed by 2050, coupled with changing tastes and dietary preferences, the world is going to need to produce more protein, more sustainably and from more sources, the report said.
CSIRO chief executive Dr Larry Marshall said science can help create new markets as well as complement existing traditional markets that are already globally competitive.
“This will help shift Australia’s reputation from being the world’s food bowl of commodities to becoming a global delicatessen of unique higher value exports,” Marshall said.
The roadmap highlights how protein demand can only be met by bringing together animal, plant and non-traditional protein production systems.
The agency’s Future Protein Mission was designed to bring together a wide network of partners with the latest innovative technology to develop a resilient and sustainable food system. The roadmap was developed with government, industry, and research sector stakeholders from agriculture, food and innovation systems.
“We can supercharge growth in our traditional protein industries by harnessing technologies like digital traceability and integrity systems that enhance the premium status of Australian red meat and grow new complementary protein markets through techniques like precision fermentation to generate a suite of new Australian products,” Marshall added.
It is a delicate dance for the science agency to not be seen to be playing favourites when it comes to protein sources and the diversification of the market. In October last year, at a senate estimates hearing Marshall fielded questions on whether CSIRO had invested in or had any connection to vegan/anti-meat activist lobby groups. Marshall pointed out that only four per cent of CSIRO’s $200 million agrifood R&D budget was spent on alternative proteins.
“Building domestic capacity and infrastructure to not only tap, but to build scale, for the plethora of protein opportunities is critical if we are to switch from importing ingredients to producing our own domestically,” Marshall said when releasing the roadmap.
Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre FIAL’s managing director Dr Mirjana Price said the global demand for protein represents a significant export opportunity for all of Australia’s protein players.
“Consumer demand is increasing for all protein sources. Australia has a real opportunity to have a thriving local food manufacturing sector, while becoming a leading exporter in value added traditional, plant, and novel protein products,” Price said.
Access the full report here.
