ARTICLE 64 Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2025 the detriment of dairy commodities like milk powders used in less sophisticated sectors such as mainstream food and animal feed. WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-ANIMAL SOURCES OF PROTEINS? Alternative proteins, such as plant proteins, insects, mycoproteins, ingredients derived from biotechnologies (precision fermentation, cell cultured) are providing interesting solutions, despite many constraints (from regulation approval to raising capital, scale up capacities, high production costs, consumer acceptance, etc.). Plant proteins are gaining traction thanks to ongoing innovation across the entire value chain— from field to fork. While soy and wheat currently dominate the global market, a diverse range of alternative sources is also being actively developed. For instance, pea proteins (whether under concentrate, isolate or TVP-form) gained momentum in the past few years thanks to their characteristics: Allergen-free, non-GMO, high nutritional content, environmental-friendliness, etc. Pea protein production grew within multiple end-user sectors, and especially meat alternatives. However, after a fast development during the past decade, postCovid sales of plant-based alternatives to meat are experiencing limited growth uptake and even decline in some regions as lots of consumers have been unsatisfied by organoleptic qualities of the products. On top of this, other challenges like the competition between plant protein sources (between pea and fava bean for instance) and the variability of yield due to climate change force the plant proteins industry to re-structure. Plant protein producing companies are thus investing into novel technologies improving nutritional content, functionalities, taste and texture (to clear off-notes and create textures that are close to conventional meat) in order to meet industry and consumers expectations. Looking for high added value applications like sport and active nutrition is also part of the new strategies. Source: Gira Whey Products Global Applications (kt prot. eq.), 2024-2029f Additional volume between 2024-2029 (kt prot. eq.) Medical nutrition 23 The size of the bubble represents the volume in 2024 Infant nutrition 103 -30 -20 -10 10 20 30 40 50 0 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% -1% -2% -3% -4% CAGR 2029/2024 Feed 169 Mainstream food 287 Added-value Nutritional and functional foods 205 Figure 2. Milk cracking continues its development as the best way to add value for dairy producers. The rising segment of nutritional and functional foods (sport and medical nutrition for example) will drive the demand uplift. Here is a sneak peek into whey proteins
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