Developments in Europe
If 6 EU Market Chains Shift 50% of Their Production to Plant-Based Proteins, They Can Offset Emissions Equivalent to 25 Million Cars, December 5, 2023, Green Queen
According to a report prepared by Profundo, if the leading six retailers and catering companies transition to plant-based proteins by 50%, they can reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 31.6 million tons; this is equivalent to eliminating 25 million cars in the EU. The report suggests that supermarkets and food service operators worldwide can transform one-third of the food system emissions, which constitute all greenhouse gas emissions, by shifting
50% of their sales from meat to plant-based proteins. If these companies – Ahold Delhaize (Netherlands), Carrefour (France), CP All (operator of all 7-Eleven stores in Thailand), Lidl (Germany), Tesco (UK), and Sodexo (France) – transition to alternative meat proteins in 50% of their productions by 2030, using a combination of plant-based foods (such as tofu and legumes) and alternative meats (including mycoproteins and proteins derived from fermentation), they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31.6 million tons annually by 2030; this is equivalent to eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 25 million cars.
Italian Government Bans Lab-Grown Meat, December 7, 2023, Food Navigator
The Italian government recently announced that it would ban the production of lab meat, while also restricting meat labels on plant-based meat alternatives. The decision has drawn significant criticism from some quarters, but from Italy’s perspective, the decision stems from a desire to protect culinary traditions and key stakeholders like farmers.
Polish Ministry of Agriculture Issues Draft Decree on Censorship of Plant-Based Meat Labeling, December 6, 2023, Vegconomist
The Polish Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a new draft decree that aims to change existing regulations on food labels, specifically targeting the labeling of vegan meat alternatives and potentially influencing the way these products are presented to consumers.
The proposed amendment, published yesterday on the website of the Government Legislation Centre, aims to regulate the use of terms traditionally associated with meat products, such as “ham”, “smoked meat” and “sausage”. According to the ministry, the aim is to protect the terms traditionally used to describe meat products and to enable more informed choices by ensuring that consumers’ interests are protected.
Global Developments
Health Memorandum First Mentioning Diet Change, December 4, 2023, Politico Pro
More than 120 countries have endorsed the UAE Climate and Health Declaration, which focuses on how to equip health systems for a warmer world and strengthen research. The health declaration is the first to recognize the urgent need to shift to “sustainable healthy diets.”
We Haven't Had the Tastiest Vegan Burgers Yet, According to Scientists, December 6, 2023, VegNews
New research published in the journal Plos One suggests that a specific enzyme can make vegan burgers juicier, tastier, and more digestible. Specifically, the protein-glutamininase enzyme is a key ingredient in making vegan burgers better. The researchers—Kiyota Sakai, Masamichi Okada, and Shotaro Yamaguchi of the Amano Enzyme Inc. Innovation Center in Japan—note that with the growing human population expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and 10 billion by 2050, it will be difficult to maintain the production of animal protein at such a rapid rate to meet demand.
Two Studies Show You Should Eat More Plants for Your Health and the Planet, December 6, 2023, VegNews
In an age marked by environmental challenges and health crises, two recent studies have illuminated the profound impact of plant-based diets on both human health and planetary well-being. The studies provide compelling evidence of the benefits of reducing meat consumption and adding more plant-based foods to our diets. The first study, published in the journal Nature Communications , offers a groundbreaking explanation. By replacing half of meat products with plant-based alternatives, global agricultural pollution could be reduced by a third from 2020 levels by 2050. This significant reduction in pollution, along with reduced land use, could halt deforestation and protect vital ecosystems.
New Study Finds Plant-Based Diets Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Risk, December 7, 2023, Vegconomist
The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has published a detailed study on the role of diets in modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The findings suggest that diets that include more vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fruits reduce the chances of developing this dreaded neurodegenerative disorder.
According to the paper, more plant-based diets, such as the Mediterranean diet and traditional diets in China, Japan and India, have been shown to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, as opposed to Western diets. The researchers also found that Alzheimer's rates increased as these countries adopted Western-style eating habits.
Dairy Giants Take First Steps in Fight, December 8, 2023, Bloomberg
Six of the world's largest dairy producers have pledged to publicly disclose how much methane they emit as part of efforts to tackle livestock farming's huge environmental footprint.
Bel Group, Danone, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé and Lactalis, among others, have formed a group to commit to transparent accounting in their dairy supply chains, the Environmental Defense Fund said at the COP28 climate summit this week. Each has pledged to create and implement a comprehensive methane action plan, the advocacy group said.
Agriculture emits about 40% of methane, a powerful gas with 80 times more heating power than carbon dioxide. Much of this comes from livestock, which exits it in the stomach or through manure. While the focus has been on tackling issues in the energy sector, such as oil well leaks, addressing this issue in agriculture has so far proven difficult. Data reporting is poor and solutions are still largely in development.
COP28: US-UAE Climate-Smart Agriculture Efforts Rise to $17 Billion, December 8, 2023, Reuters
Funding for joint U.S.-United Arab Emirates efforts to advance climate-smart agriculture around the world has risen to more than $17 billion, according to an announcement Friday at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
The Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM) was launched at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 and is funded by governments, companies and civil society organisations. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, food and agriculture contribute to around a third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Since 2021, nearly 80 projects have been announced as part of the AIM for Climate initiative, with goals to expand agricultural research, implement sustainable agricultural practices and reduce methane emissions.
“I think it has made people think about food and agriculture very differently,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.
Batuhan İNANLAR Food Engineer, M.Sc. BİTKİDEN
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