Farmers Vital to Growing Alternative Protein Industry

Media release – Food Frontier, 20 July 2023

Farmers vital to growing alternative protein industry

The alternative proteins sector has grown tenfold in Australia and New Zealand over the past few years.

As with any emerging industry, many gaps and bottlenecks exist across alternative protein supply chains—from skills and infrastructure capacity to optimised crops and local ingredient supply, not least because of the speed of growth.

Executive Director of Food Frontier Dr Simon Eassom says the shift to diversify protein supply across the globe will continue to accelerate, providing opportunities for grain farmers and helping to alleviate supply chain issues, “Deloitte Access Economics predicts that plant-based meat—which relies on base ingredients such as pulses and legumes–will generate almost $3 billion in domestic consumer sales by 2030.

“From a base of just 4 producers 5 years ago to more than 40 in 2023 and over 300 plant-based meat products in the market, in terms of volumes, the industry is forecast to produce 169,000 tonnes of end product by 2030.

“Increasing demand internationally for high-quality protein isolates, including for plant-based meats and a range of other foods and products, are also market opportunities for farmers.”

Agriculture Victoria Policy and Programs Executive Director Sarah-Jane McCormack highlighted the exciting possibilities of new and emerging agricultural industries.

“Agriculture Victoria recognises the growth potential of alternative proteins and other emerging sectors and believe these industries offer significant opportunities to create jobs, broaden income streams and target new markets and consumers.

“As the world demand for protein increases and consumers explore new protein sources, there are exciting opportunities for grain farmers to tap into this emerging market supported by Agriculture Victoria’s cutting-edge research.”

Hand in hand with increasing local supply of pulses and legumes is the need for businesses to invest in more plant protein processing infrastructure.

There is currently only one operational pulse fractionation plant available in the country, and that’s in Victoria. This facility is already bringing investment and jobs to the Horsham region, and providing greater economic value to the local farmers who supply it with their product.

Tackling supply chain issues such as this is just one of the sessions at Food Frontier’s AltProtein 23 Conference in October.

Agriculture Victoria is partnering with Food Frontier in recognition of the role farmers and greater infrastructure play in the development of the sector.

Dr Garry Rosewarne, Research Director for Plant Production Sciences at Agriculture Victoria, will be participating in this session, speaking about the crop research and innovation work at the Grains Innovation Park, which is supporting the growth of Victoria’s plant-based sector.

Market leaders from Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the United States are also among the list of speakers announced for AltProteins 23 on October 4 at Sofitel on Collins in Melbourne. AltProteins 23 is an in-person event covering the entire alternative proteins sector: plant-based meat, cultivated meat and precision fermentation—from primary production, investment and R&D, to manufacturing, foodservice and retail.

To view the program, initial speaker information and to register to attend go to altproteinsconference.com.au.