August 18, 2020

Alternative proteins to complement rather than compete, says NSW Farmers

Alternative proteins present a huge opportunity for local producers to complement rather than compete with traditional proteins, says NSW Farmers, The Seymour Telegraph reported.

The Australian farm lobby group says more engagement in the alternative proteins space is needed for complementary roles to be realised.

NSW Farmers' Agricultural Science Committee chair David Mailler said it was important for the sector to be supportedby Australian research and development.

"Our members recognise that traditional livestock industries alone won't meet the global demand for protein over the next 30 years," Mailler says.

"The alternative protein sector is growing exponentially, and our domestic producers are well-placed to take advantage of this."

Mailler stresses that the substitution rate for alternative products would not pose a risk to the viability of animal agriculture in Australia. According to him, there would always be a demand for Australian high-quality meat products, both domestically and internationally.

"Research from Meat & Livestock Australia tells us that most Australian households are buying meat, and that there's a positive perception of livestock industries amongst Australians," Mailler cites.

However, he emphasises the importance of clear labelling of alternative protein products to provide certainty for consumers.

"Both traditional and alternative protein products need to be responsive to consumer preferences regarding transparency and sustainability, and we need to compare like with like when talking about sustainability claims," Mailler adds.

"Currently, most of the ingredients for plant-based protein are imported, because we don't have the domestic capacity to process Australian-grown produce.

If we really want to reap the benefits from this emerging industry, we need the policy settings and investment to ensure our grain and horticulture producers can access local processing."