According to forecasts of experts, in the next few decades the consumption of meat worldwide will decrease, and the demand for its vegetable counterparts will increase.
Russia can become a leading exporter of such products.
This topic was widely discussed in Moscow at the conference «Healthy Lifestyle, Organic and Food of the Future». It was held as part of the 30th World Food Moscow 2021 food exhibition, which took place on September 21-24.
The main challenge that will have to face in the foreseeable future is population growth.
In particular, up to 10 billion people will live on the planet by 2050. There will probably not be enough animal products for everyone. Therefore, you need to get used to plant analogues in advance and switch to them.
According to forecasts, meat of animal origin and its plant counterparts may become equal in price by 2025.
And then the popularity of analogues will grow more and more, and animal products will fall.
What are the benefits of avoiding meat?
Despite the fact that natural meat, at first glance, is preferable to analogs, its consumption is fraught with many problems.
Security.
Meat with antibiotics is rejected by some people, because its use in food is comparable to the active intake of antibiotics.
The consequence is that the effectiveness of such drugs decreases when they are used in the future. However, if the animal has not received antibiotics, it can be dangerously ill.
Animal husbandry uses a lot of resources: water, land, electricity.
It leaves a strong carbon footprint.
It is estimated that 16% of the carbon dioxide on the planet is precisely the “product” of animal husbandry, while all transport in total emits only 14% of CO2.
The use of animals for food and breeding them specifically for slaughter is considered by many to be morally unacceptable.
These are all factors that could lead to a reduction in meat consumption in the coming decades.
“The possibility of introducing a tax on meat to reduce the carbon footprint and develop innovative technologies is already being discussed.
Production of plant-based products will help provide the population with food, preserve the environment, significantly reduce waste and avoid climate change, «said Elena Shifrina, a representative of the Union of Plant-Based Producers.
The growth in the consumption of plant products opens up wide opportunities, including for Russian farmers.
According to experts, Russia could take up to 15% of the world market in this industry. But we must act quickly, before someone else takes the niche.
One of the main conditions for this is government support. If it is provided in a timely manner, Russia has every chance of becoming one of the leaders in the developing industry of production of plant-based meat analogues.
