Meeting the global protein supply requirements of a growing and ageing population
Kieran Smith, Anthony Watson, Marta Lonnie, Wouter Peeters, D.G.A.B. Oonincx, Niki Tsoutsoura, Genís Simon‐Miquel, Kamil J Szepe, Noriane Cochetel, Alice G. Pearson, Oliver C. Witard, Andrew M. Salter, M.S. Bennett, Bernard M. Corfe
Abstract
Human dietary patterns are a major cause of environmental transformation, with agriculture occupying ~ 50% of global land space, while food production itself is responsible for ~ 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of freshwater use. Furthermore, the global population is also growing, such that by 2050, it is estimated to exceed ~ 9 billion. While most of this expansion in population is expected to occur in developing countries, in high-income countries there are also predicted changes in demographics, with major increases in the number of older people. There is a growing consensus that older people have a greater requirement for protein. With a larger and older population, global needs for protein are set to increase. This paper summarises the conclusions from a Rank Prize funded colloquium evaluating novel strategies to meet this increasing global protein need.