How should we understand the economic opportunities and risks to the Scottish Food and Drink sector from new developments and innovations in agri-food?

Background

Question Group: Working with nature to improve plant, animal and soil health, enhancing agricultural practices, and promoting resilient food systems. It also encompasses innovation in disease control, climate adaptation for crops and stock, strengthening food safety and sustainable farming to reduce environmental pollution and boost productivity.

Sub-questions: -What impact(s) would alternative proteins technologies - in either the food chain (animal feed) or for direct consumption - have on the Scottish food system? What would be the wider social, economic and environmental implications?
-What do we know about consumer reactions to alternative proteins and/or other new emerging food technologies?
-What would the impact of new technologies (such as alternative proteins) be in making progress towards achieving the SDGs and reducing GHG impact of food production processes?
-What would enable new or existing businesses to develop or use alternative proteins in Scotland?
-How can we support improvements in the competitiveness of our food and drink sector using new innovations?
-What role should there be for product reformulation, vertical farming or other technologies in the Scottish Food System?

Next steps

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Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032

Related UKRI funded projects


  • new VALue landscapes for plant PROtein Pathways

    The current European plant-protein landscape is flawed. Heightened societal awareness of the environmental impact of consuming animal-based protein is driving the public’s awareness of alternative, sustainable sources of...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: KPAD LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    Addresses the economic opportunities and risks of alternative proteins in the food chain and aligns with the context of promoting resilient food systems.

  • Gap resolution in safety, nutritional, allergenicity and environmental assessments to promote alternative protein utilization and the dietary shift.

    Accelerating the transition from animal-based to alternative dietary proteins – the dietary shift – is key to reducing the footprint of our food system in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), energy, water and land u...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    Focuses on promoting alternative protein utilization and the dietary shift, aligning with the question's emphasis on new technologies and their implications.

  • Food Quality and Health - Sustaining the Future

    Demand for food is changing because of population growth, changing diets and increasing affluence. Food production is under increasing pressure as water and other natural resources become scarcer and competition for the ...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF READING

    Why might this be relevant?

    While it does not fully address alternative proteins, it discusses food quality, health, and sustainability, which are relevant aspects of the question.

  • CEA-FIRST - Consortium Europe-Africa for Research and Innovation on Food Systems Transformation

    CEA-FIRST, the Consortium Europe Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation, consists of 21 partners from Africa and Europe, partly from the former LEAP4FNSSA, extended with new public and private ...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES

  • CoCentre for Sustainable Food Systems

    Our current food system does not meet the economic, social and environmental requirements needed to generate food security and nutrition for all. The food system faces urgent and complex challenges. This affects us local...

    Funded by: ISPF

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

  • Vertical Farming as a route to crop nutritional enhancement

    The problems around food nutrition and health are manifold. Climate change is increasingly impacting UK food production the food we import in terms of yield, quality, and nutritional content variability, all of which mea...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: JAMES HUTTON LIMITED

  • Sustainable ingredients for the plant based food market

    SPG Innovation, Baker Perkins and the University of Leeds, will develop sustainable ingredients for the plant-based food market. Meat free textured vegetable proteins is a market which is beginning to gain traction and w...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SPG INNOVATION LIMITED

  • 18249-23 Food Systems Masters of Science

    “The Food Systems Masters of Science project is developing top talent for the food sector, by training the leaders of the future. Organised by leading academic institutions and industrial partners from across EIT Food’s ...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF READING

  • Innovation Hub for Improving Health and Nutrition through Biofortification (HERB Hub)

    The UK has a strong commitment to food, health and nutrition. This is particularly the case in the field of biofortification where food manufacturers are increasingly encouraged to produce foods that are healthy and safe...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE

  • TRAnsforming the DEbate about livestock systems transformation (TRADE)

    Livestock (farmed mammalian species, poultry, and fish) has been central to UK agriculture for centuries, being culturally embedded in the popular image of national farming systems. But the sustainability of the sub sect...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh