ProVeg side event at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024
At first glance, the intersection of livestock and alternative protein might seem like an unlikely pairing. However, the recent “Alternative Proteins: Africa’s Way Forward” side event highlighted a compelling synergy between these fields. Alternative proteins—protein-rich foods intended to replace traditional livestock sources such as meat, eggs, dairy, and fish—are emerging as vital solutions to address Africa’s pressing protein deficiency and promote sustainable food security. The side event, organized by ProVeg International (Nigeria) sought to explore innovative solutions for addressing Africa’s protein deficiency and promoting sustainable food security.
Alternative proteins are critical for developing sustainable food systems and climate-resilient agriculture. In Africa, where protein deficiency is prevalent, protein demand is projected to increase by 300% over the next two decades as the continent’s population doubles. The challenge lies in identifying diverse protein sources, including plant-based, cultivated, and insect-based proteins, while addressing the environmental costs of traditional animal protein production, which is resource-intensive and increasingly expensive.
Hakeem Jimo kicked off the panel by referencing a recent statement from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD):
“The current global food systems are not future-proof. We are running out of room for food production, leading to deforestation and other ecosystem degradation. Over two-thirds of the world’s agricultural land is used for livestock production. Additionally, food and agriculture account for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, with animal agriculture alone accounting for 11 to 20% of all emissions. With the demand for meat on the rise, we need to address how we produce and consume protein in order for the world to achieve its climate and nature goals. Shifting the protein supply from animal-based foods to land-efficient alternative proteins (i.e. meat made from plants, cultivated from animal cells or produced via fermentation) can significantly reduce the land requirements for food production and enable large-scale restoration of agricultural land. This shift offers environmental and socioeconomic benefits, including climate and biodiversity gains, reduced water use, soil preservation, and improved farmer livelihoods. Moreover, transitioning toward alternative proteins can make food systems more resilient to climate change and supply chain disruptions, further strengthening global food security.”
Key Takeaways from the Session
- There is an urgent need to boost protein supply in Africa through various sources, including animal, insect and plant-based proteins, to effectively combat the continent’s protein deficiency.
- The anticipated growth of industrial animal agriculture to meet the rising demand for animal-sourced foods poses significant sustainability and climate challenges, particularly affecting smallholder farmers.
- Emerging success stories, such as affordable, high-protein soy-based products, showcase the potential of alternative proteins to meet the nutritional needs of low-income consumers.
- Animal protein remains vital for addressing the nutritional needs of Africa’s most vulnerable populations, including its youth, underscoring its importance in any dietary strategy.
- Transitioning to healthier diets necessitates addressing behaviour changes that would reduce the over-consumption of animal protein in high-income areas while offering various nourishing food options, like alternative proteins, for vulnerable groups. Any approach taken must consider cultural sensitivity and the importance of local dietary preferences while ensuring health remains a priority.
- This conversation is about transitioning to healthier and sustainable diets and ensuring the plate is balanced to include fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, emphasizing diversity and flexibility in dietary choices. This transition should prioritize cultural sensitivity and Africa’s youth and vulnerable populations
Quotes from the panellists:
- Namukolo Covic: “To truly combat Africa’s protein deficiency, we need a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the critical role of animal protein in our diets, especially for vulnerable populations.”
- Andy Jarvis: “Cultivating crops for alternative protein production can turn challenges into opportunities for smallholder farmers, enabling them to thrive in a changing landscape.
- Jean Paul Gisa: “Our soy-based textured vegetable protein is not just a product: it’s a viable solution for low-income consumers, proving that alternative proteins can meet the needs of low-income consumers.
- Namukolo Covic: “A balanced diet is essential. We should not eliminate entire food groups but instead promote a variety of protein sources—animal, insect, and plant-based—tailored to our unique contexts.
- Andy Jarvis: “We must transform how we deliver healthy and diverse food to a growing population, using less land and drastically reducing emissions.”
About the panellists:
- Dr. Namukolo Covic is the International Livestock Research Institute Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia, CGIAR Ethiopia Country Convenor, and CGIAR Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. Her extensive experience straddles the interface of policy, dynamics of agriculture and food systems, and related interventions. She was the President of the African Nutrition Society (2020-2022) and sits on various nutrition-focused advisory boards/working groups, including the EAT-Forum, the Micronutrient Forum and the Food Systems Countdown Initiative.
- Dr Andy Jarvis is the Director of Future of Food at Bezos Earth Fund. He has worked for over 20 years in research for development to support the delivery of food security and environmental sustainability in the food system. His research has focused on data-driven policy analysis, including, agrobiodiversity conservation, climate impacts and adaptation.
- Jean Paul Gisa is a serial entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in the development sector. He has built and grown multiple businesses in agricultural value chains, including Rwanda’s largest agroforestry program with One Acre Fund. Now, as the Venture Studio Director, he spearheads a new alternative protein venture focused on enhancing protein consumption through plant-based solutions.
- Hakeem Jimo is the country director of ProVeg Nigeria, which is part of ProVeg International’s global network promoting plant-forward eating and food innovation with offices in 14 countries – including permanent observer statuses at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He is also a vegan entrepreneur and co-founded VeggieVictory in 2013, Nigeria’s first plant-based food company and manufacturer of innovative alternative protein products.
