Plant-based proteins have long been researched and supported in their efficiency to lead in a more sustainable world. Not only for personal benefits, but also for the environment, plant proteins play a vital role in the sustainability of our society and planet.
Considering animal agriculture’s impact on the environment, this could have dire consequences for earth’s life-supporting ecological systems.
- Reduce the impacts of climate change
- Food production is responsible for up to 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Animal products are responsible for almost three-quarters of these emissions. By adopting a greater focus on developing the production of plant-based proteins, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced tremendously.
- The production of animal feed, digestion and waste decomposition accounts for a large portion of these emissions. On the other hand, the plant protein industry could mitigate climate change through soil conservation and sustainable practices linked to farming and production.
- If we look at the rapeseed industry, Europe is the largest rapeseed producer, accounting for 30% of the world’s production, and the rapeseed plant itself accounts for 63% of oilseed production. Since the vegetable oil and plant protein markets are expected to continue growing exponentially, this technology holds high potential economic and sustainable benefits for countries in which rapeseed is grown on a mass scale, including France, Germany, Poland, Canada, India, Australia, and China. As the rapeseed industry operates against a mass-scale, it holds significant potential to bring about sustainable climate actions.
- Save water
- Preserving freshwater resources continues to be an important area of debate when it comes to farming and development. Agriculture is one of the world’s largest water-consuming sectors, with meat and dairy products leading the way in agricultural water use. By shifting the focus towards sustainable plant-based foods, water conservation can increase throughout the farming and supply chain system.
- Sustainable plant proteins also account for less pollution of water resources. As plant-based proteins require less crop fertilizer than animal-food crops do, less nutrient pollution spills into freshwater sources.
- Minimize agricultural land use
- The agriculture industry not only accounts for a great deal of our freshwater consumption, it also contributes to biodiversity loss via farming land use. Animal farming requires space for the animals to move and feed, with little herd rotation, the soil soon loses valuable nutrients. By shifting towards planting more protein-rich crops, valuable vitamins and minerals are given back to the soil.
- In addition to healthier soil and crops, farming to feed humans, rather than animals for meat production would allow the industry to increase food supply and prevent food wastage in the production system.NapiFeryn BioTech is one of the leading companies, on the forefront of innovative food production systems – looking to modernize the food industry through novel technology. Aware of the growing consumer interest in alternative sources of protein, NapiFeryn BioTech has developed ultra-sustainable and economically gainful technology capable of transforming waste products left over from the rapeseed oil-pressing industry into much-needed resources. Not only will this technology enable the oil-pressing industry to implement more sustainable processes, it will also aid the agriculture industry to make the vital shift towards more environmentally sustainable practices.
- Promote food security
- By using environmental resources more efficiently, food insecurity can be counteracted. A large percentage of the grains being planted is used for animal feed. Considering that a single animal feeds less mouths, this practice is counterproductive.
- Contrary, sustainable plant proteins aim to lessen food wastage, in a bid to combat food scarcity. For example, ALSEOS extracts plant proteins from what is called rapeseed cake, which is the byproduct of the rapeseed oil-pressing process. Rapeseed is a bright, yellow-flowering plant grown in the EU more than anywhere else in the world. Due to its local production and the circular business model of NapiFeryn BioTech, the technology is highly sustainable. This example displays how the production of sustainable plant proteins aims to support food security, through cleaning up and utilizing the entire production systems for less wastage.
- Encourage healthier living
- By encouraging environmental health, over time the well-being of society also improves. Incorporating more sustainable plant proteins into our diets not only aids the earth, but we also benefit our physical health. Premature deaths from heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions can be lessened by incorporating more plant-based proteins in our diets.
- The above is just a handful of examples of how the farming and production of plant proteins can benefit environmental health. In recognition of the environmentally friendly process of their technology, NapiFeryn BioTech has been recognized for this potential by the European Commission, and so has been chosen to participate in their research and funding programme, Horizon 2020.
Through the funding and support they have provided, NapiFeryn hopes to continue to grow and to fill the gaps within the food industry. Due to the potential to address environmental, economic, and ethical concerns, NapiFeryn’s growth will benefit the European economy and take a step in the right direction towards global sustainability. Overall, this innovative technology has the potential to make a positive impact on our world, conserving the Earth’s natural resources.Because of the environmentally friendly process of their technology, NapiFeryn BioTech has been recognized for this potential by the European Commission, and so has been chosen to participate in their research and funding programme, Horizon 2020. Through the funding and support they have provided, NapiFeryn hopes to continue to grow and to fill the gaps within the food industry. Due to the potential to address environmental, economic, and ethical concerns, NapiFeryn’s growth will benefit the European economy and take a step in the right direction towards global sustainability. Overall, this innovative technology has the potential to make a positive impact on our world, conserving the Earth’s natural resources.