Food systems can be best conceptualized as the integration of humans and the environment. Within food systems, protein supply and demand are crucial, both nutritionally and environmentally. It is evident that globally, a major... [ view full abstract ]
Food systems can be best conceptualized as the integration of humans and the environment. Within food systems, protein supply and demand are crucial, both nutritionally and environmentally. It is evident that globally, a major proportion of environmental pressure is caused by food-related human activities – meat protein production in particular. Still, meat is the most common source of dietary protein and it is deeply embedded within the socio-cultural identity of western countries. In addition, food systems have become more complex, as current food and dietary protein choices are no longer tied to the natural rhythm of an agricultural society. Rather, food systems are driven by industrial food supply chains, in which multinational food corporations and retailers are the most powerful actors. Due to growing populations and affluence, it has been argued that food security and sustainability will be on a collision course by mid-century. Hence, changing consumption patterns and adjusting the intake of protein through positive behavior change are necessary actions. This paper outlines a framework to study the interactions of protein systems and evaluate the major sustainability outcomes affected by these interactions. Philosophical conceptualization is used as a method to explore and synthesize disparate literature on sustainable food systems, protein supply and protein consumption. This can be seen as the first step towards theory building in the field of sustainable protein systems. The evidence collated justifies a representation of sustainable protein systems, which can be used to identify sustainable sources of protein, the collective agency needed for challenging the unsustainable structures of contemporary food systems, as well as tradeoffs among the protein system outcomes. A conceptual framework for sustainable protein system emphasizes a long term stepwise societal transition towards more sustainable food systems on a generational timescale. In practice, the inevitable transition towards more plant-based diets is in the centre of the framework, but also mushrooms, herbivorous fish species, insects and in vitro meat can play a role in the transition. Encouraging and promoting greater protein diversity and avoiding protein overconsumption would lead to better overall outcomes for both human health and the environment. The article argues that acknowledging the importance of human agency in shaping sustainable protein systems is needed. This includes understanding human behavior as well as understanding the networks of interaction or collective agency. The paper raises questions around the role and significance of food system governance and the emergence of competing discourses of sustainable protein. I conclude that both public and private food policies should collaboratively focus on sustainable protein supply and consumption. Networked regional protein systems formed from the bottom-up by interactions between food system actors are suggested as an approach towards sustainable protein system.
keywords: food system, sustainable protein system, protein diversity, collective agency, food system governance
5f. Food security and agriculture
