Vegconomist: Why Reports of Plant-Based Meat’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
I recently shared my thoughts on Vegconomist about the negative narrative surrounding the alternative protein industry.
The doom and gloom coverage has reached fever pitch, but I believe this misses a critical point about our planet’s future.
Here are some key insights from my op-ed.
We’re Still at Version 1.0
I’ll be the first to acknowledge that current plant-based products aren’t perfect. Some are mediocre at best, and it’s fair to question whether they can win over flexitarian eaters.
But here’s what I want people to understand:
“These products are still version 1.0 alt-meats. I assure you: the best is yet to come.”
R&D takes time and money. Scaling up takes even more. There are breakthroughs happening in labs today that are still years away from reaching consumers. At Aqua Cultured Foods, we’re working with fermentation-derived proteins that are highly resource-efficient, scalable, and cost-effective.
The Real Crisis Ahead
I shared two things that keep me awake at night: population growth and ocean devastation. We’re expecting nearly two billion more people in the next eight years, with much of that growth happening in regions where seafood demand has already depleted supply.
“Between the population boom and a burgeoning middle class, seafood and meat consumption in Asia is expected to rise 33 percent by 2030.”
The reality is stark. By 2030, there may no longer be plenty of fish in the sea. Without alternatives, we could be looking at mass starvation.
Bigger Than Business Success
This isn’t just about industry performance or startup valuations. According to Boston Consulting Group, investing in meat and dairy alternatives does far more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than green buildings or zero-emission cars.
“The entire planet’s future, and humanity, may depend on aggressively funding and marketing alternative proteins. It may be the only way to stave off environmental collapse and feed people sustainably.”
Conclusion
My message is simple: we can’t afford for the alternative protein industry to fail. The stakes are too high, and the timeline is too urgent. We need to look beyond short-term market fluctuations and focus on the long-term necessity of these innovations.