PROFETAS protein foods, environment, technology and society
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Results
PROFETAS aims to develop and evaluate potential stepwise changes for an alternative to the current way of food supply. The focus is on the transition towards a more vegetarian Western consumption pattern. The hypothesis is that a partial replacement of animal proteins with plant proteins in the diet is:
1. environmentally more sustainable than present trends
2. technologically feasible
3. socially acceptable
The transition is studied using the (partial) replacement of pork with novel protein foods (NPFs) based on dry green peas as an example.

One of the gaps between theory and practice of reducing animal production by replacing meat with NPFs is the technological innovation necessary to create marketable plant protein products. NPFs will be the products of a new technology which has to compete with the established technology of animal protein production. The search, development and adoption of new products depends on the capabilities and incentives of the industry and on broader societal issues such as market conditions, consumer acceptance and public policies.

The results of the 3 environmental projects are detailed in The environment.
The results of the 6 technological projects are detailed in The technology.
The results of the 3 consumer projects are detailed in The consumer.
The results of the 4 socio-economic projects are detailed in Economy & policy.

Multidisciplinary integration
The overall conclusions of PROFETAS can be found under Societal transitions.