New research comparing global government support for alternative proteins finds Australia in last place among 10 countries.
Food Frontier’s ‘Government support for alternative proteins scorecard’ suggests that countries such as Singapore, Israel, US and Canada are picking up the pace when it comes to supporting the transition towards more alternative proteins, driven by health, environmental and economic benefits.
The organisation says that Australia falls dramatically short across 10 key parameters considered crucial for the growth of the industry, scoring just 1.5 compared to Canada and Singapore’s score of 7.5.
Dr Simon Eassom, CEO of Food Frontier, says, “This comparison clearly indicates where Australia is lagging and should serve as a wake-up call to the opportunities available.
“Certain countries have already established themselves as global leaders in the plant-based and cultivated meat industries and capitalising on the benefits of this. With the right government support, Australia can thrive in this sector too and cement its own place as a leader in food and agricultural production.”
Food Frontiers says that despite some positive scores, including a regulatory framework suitable for novel proteins and strong research and development, Australia has not yet progressed in several key areas.
These include dietary guidelines that prioritise plant proteins (although the guidelines are currently being updated, with the potential for sustainability messaging to be included), plant protein farmer incentives, sufficient support for infrastructure, and adequate funding.
Globally, governments are setting clear targets and roadmaps for success by implementing these strategies, such as Singapore’s ‘30 by 30’ food security initiative and Denmark’s plant-based action plan.
Eassom says, “It’s great to note that six out of 11 countries have implemented a climate strategy that mentions alternative proteins. This is a significant step forward, as we know food systems contribute between one-quarter and one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions and must evolve to be more sustainable if we hope to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.”
