It’s widely recognised that today’s plant-based proteins are categorically different from conventional legume-based additives. Some company combines a precision biofermentation process with machine-learning algorithms to discover and create novel plant-based food ingredients, starting with proteins. 

They replicate the taste, texture, gelation, foaming, emulsification and binding abilities of animal proteins and may be used in a variety of products, from packaged baked foods and sauces to burgers and yogurt. Making cost-effective food production remains one aim to meet a voracious demand among consumers for sustainable food. Unlike meat proteins, plant proteins are not “complete proteins” in that they do not have the same nutritional qualities, including all the different kinds of amino acids. A product may have a certain amount of protein, say 15 grams per serving, but that means little if the protein falls short in digestibility and bioavailability. In the future the plant-protein category may face requirements of a PDCAAS (protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score) or a DIAAS (digestible indispensable amino acid score), as per doctor recommendations.

Consumer understanding of the plant-based category is evolving.

The Vegetarian Resources Group, Baltimore, conducted a survey and found 20% of respondents said they thought a plant-based diet meant vegetarian. Other answers were vegan at 17%, vegetarian or vegan diets composed of whole foods at 18%, a whole foods diet that could include animal products at 13% and did not know what a plant-based diet was at 24%.

The global alternative protein market has reached nearly $40 billion in 2021, which is up from under $35 billion in 2016, according to London-based Euromonitor International, which projects the value to be about $45 billion in 2025. In the United States, the alternative protein market is closing in on $5 billion in 2021, which is up from over $3 billion in 2016. The value should go over $6 billion by 2021, according to Euromonitor International, which includes milk alternatives, meat substitutes and free-from-dairy yogurt in the category. Enebbe online market platform is not yet offering alternative protein products even if leading the way with antioxidants natural frozen plum powder. However, this is one new food source to be considered as it may help doing the right thing in terms of sustainability soon.