Protein2Food

Protein2Food is a new research project funded by the EU in the framework of Horizon2020. The project’s aim is to develop innovative, cost-effective and resource-efficient, healthy plant proteins for human consumption in the form of new, attractive protein-rich food products and new recipes which can substitute products with animal-based ingredients.

Work packages (WP) 1, 2 and 3 are dealing with technological development. As it is illustrated in the diagram below WP 1 concentrates on the improved and/or extended cultivation of protein crops in the European Union. WP 2 deals with the processing of the protein crops to intermediate products which in WP 3 can be tested to create novel food products within product categories such as meat substitutes, bakery products, pasta, breakfast cereals, beverages and infant food.

For this purpose the focus is on the most promising high value seed crops and grain legumes of high protein quantity, which are quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, lupine, faba bean, chickpea and lentil.

Ifeu participates in WP 4 and is leading WP 5. In WP 5 a sustainability assessment is carried-out following the ISO 14040 and 14044 framework and considering guidance provided in the ILCD handbook.

WP 5 will develop LCA models in order to identify the most promising and most sustainable supply chains among the different novel protein food options. Furthermore, starting from a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario it will examine the environmental and socio-economic effects of replacement of animal-based protein food by novel food solutions developed in the project.

A policy synopsis will provide high-level information for decision makers in industry and policy. It shall point-out and explain the potential role of novel protein food regarding aspects like resource efficiency, reduction of environmental impacts, water protection, farm incomes and land competition.

AGRI-FOOD session at the 07th [avniR] Conference of LCM in Lille, 2017

Protein2Food was presented by ifeu during the AGRI-FOOD session at the 07th [avniR] Conference of LCM in Lille, 2017. Beside the P2F background and framework, the ‘Farm to Fork’ model and first LCA results of lupin and quinoa-based innovative vegetable meat substitute have been presented. The comparison with the traditional reference product chicken breast shows that the innovative meat substitute would lead to significant reductions of potential environmental impacts.

Abstract book

Presentation

24th SETAC Europe LCA Case Study Symposium in Vienna, 2018

Protein2Food was presented by ifeu at the 24th SETAC Europe LCA Case Study Symposium in Vienna, 2018 with focus on variability of footprints and implications for policymaking. Firstly, LCA result ranges of animal based foot products due to a variety of agricultural systems like integrated, organic, intensive or extensive systems have been compared to the P2F prototypes. Secondly, by presenting first results of the water scarcity assessment, it was highlighted that the results are strongly sensitive to assumptions about geographical location of the cultivation areas, especially for crops which are partly grown in arid regions of southern countries. Using comparative assessments based on scarcity factors aggregated across larger regions may be useful for giving a first orientation, but it would be too simplistic to derive targeted policy measures.

Abstract book

Presentation

AGRI-FOOD session at the 08th [avniR] Conference of LCM in Lille, 2018

Protein2Food was presented by ifeu during the AGRI-FOOD session at the 08th [avniR] Conference of LCM in Lille, 2018. By presenting the comparative results of the three product lines fiber- and spread-like vegetable meat alternatives (VMA) and vegetable milk, the conclusion was drawn that the innovative vegetable P2F prototypes would lead to significant reductions of potential environmental impacts compared to the traditional reference products.

Biodiversity assessment method applied in the Protein2Food project was presented at the [avniR] Conference of Life Cycle Management (LCM) 2019

The 09th [avniR] Conference of LCM took place at Lilliad University Lille from November 06-07th under the heading “Implementation of a more circular future". Besides the discussion how LCA could help to implement a circular economy, expert sessions were organized to discuss methodological challenges and methods. The biodiversity assessment method applied in P2F was discussed in the expert session “methodological challenges in the exploitation of resources”. Agriculture is the main driver of biodiversity loss in Europe and will be so for years to come. Therefore, a biodiversity assessment with focus on crop cultivation has been developed and conducted in P2F. The presentation highlights that the increased plant-based protein supply with innovative protein-rich foods developed within the P2F project would reduce the pressure of agriculture on biodiversity as well as on further environmental categories.

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Presentation

Journal Publications

Runtime

March 2015 – February 2020

Funding

European Commission (Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme)

Partner

University of Copenhagen (UCPH)

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Meriterraneo (ISAFOM)

Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung (FRAUNHOFER IVV)

University College Cork (UCC)

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS)

Louis Bolk Institute (LBI)

Makerere University (MAK)

Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM)

Satean Foundation (SATEAN)

European Food Information Council (EUFIC)

MFH Pulses (MFH)

Prolupin (PROL)

Cyber Colloids (CC)

Novolyze (NOV)

COPOSA (COP)

NatureCrops (NC)