Alternative Proteins Magazine ISSUE FOCUS 20 October 2025 Global demand for protein continues to rise, driven by population growth, rising incomes, and shifting diets. At the same time, conventional protein production, whether from livestock, soy cultivation, or fishmeal production, places significant pressure on ecosystems. Livestock farming accounts for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO, 2013). Most emissions come from methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), released through enteric fermentation, manure management, and fertilizer use for feed crops (IPCC, 2021). Soy expansion is a leading cause of deforestation in South America (WWF, 2021), while fishmeal production threatens marine ecosystems and food security for communities that rely on fish as a staple (FAO, 2020). Meanwhile, the use of land, water, and fertilizers in conventional protein production is already unsustainable in many regions, and climate change is making these challenges worse (World Bank, 2019). In short, the world faces a protein paradox: We need to produce more, but we must do it with far fewer resources. This challenge has sparked growing interest in alternative proteins, from plantbased and cultivated meat to microbial proteins and algae. These innovations offer an opportunity to rethink the role of protein in food systems not only as a dietary requirement, but also as a driver of sustainability, resilience, and circular economy models. SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS Unlike traditional linear models of “take-makedispose”, the circular bioeconomy aims to keep resources in use as long as possible, minimize waste, and regenerate natural systems through the “reduce-reuse-recycle” model (OECD, 2018). In food systems, this means finding ways to use byproducts, side streams, and even waste gases as valuable inputs for new production. Alternative proteins are particularly well suited to this approach, as their production relies on non-traditional inputs, which allows companies to transAcross industries, vast amounts of valuable byproducts are discarded daily, despite their potential to become high-value resources. Biotechnology is revolutionizing this paradigm by converting waste gases like methane into nutritious protein for feed and food applications. As the biotech industry advances, integrating sustainable resource utilization will be critical for long-term success of building more resilient food systems. THE ROLE OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS AND INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS IN A CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY Eleni Ntokou New Product Development, Sustainability, & Regulatory Affairs Director Unibio
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