A. Armonaitė: More and more start-ups developing food innovations are emerging in Lithuania
The Minister of the Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė and her team discussed the prospects and development of the market for alternative proteins in Europe with policy makers, experts, business and science representatives from various countries at the international conference “The Future of Protein Production” held in Amsterdam.
“Alternative proteins have a huge potential that we must exploit. This is important both for reducing the environmental impact of food production and protecting biodiversity, and for ensuring the resilience and security of food systems. Sustainable food systems are the future. In recent years, innovations have opened up many new opportunities, and we should continue to invest in research and promote the development of the sector in the country. We have the necessary measures and actions in place, including attracting a specialised international accelerator to help start-ups in the field of alternative proteins to grow,” said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
At one of Europe's largest events on alternative proteins, the Minister A. Armonaitė, together with the representatives of other governments, shared experiences on how to create a supportive ecosystem for food innovation and commercialisation, and discussed the latest developments in this field and market trends.
During the conference, the Minister also presented the potential of Lithuania in life sciences and invited Dutch companies to invest in the alternative protein sector in the country. Lithuania is actively developing cooperation with the Netherlands, a leading country in the field of alternative proteins. In the spring of this year, the Innovation Agency signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation with the Dutch association Cell Agriculture Europe. It is hoped that this cooperation and the acquired competences will enable the implementation of initiatives that will contribute to the accelerated growth of the sector in our country and help Lithuania to integrate into the international value chains.
Alternative proteins are proteins derived from new or unconventional sources to complement or replace traditional animal and plant proteins in the human diet. Studies carried out by the Innovation Agency and Invest Lithuania show the great potential of the alternative protein industry and the production of innovative food products in our country. Agri-innovation and food technologies are already gaining ground in Lithuania, with dozens of start-ups developing innovative solutions.
“The market for alternative proteins will grow as more and more consumers turn to sustainable and healthy food products. The agri-food sector is responsible for about one third of greenhouse gas emissions, for example, one kilogram of beef produces about 60-70 kg of greenhouse gases. In addition, livestock farming requires large areas of land, which leads to deforestation. It also wastes natural resources such as water. Governments need to take the lead in promoting change and a shift towards sustainable food systems. And alternative proteins are a more sustainable way. Although today it is still an expensive process, investment in this area is growing. We need to create a regulatory environment that is conducive to innovation, while ensuring the quality and safety of the products that are developed," said Ieva Valeškaitė, the Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
In order to foster the growth of alternative proteins and the biotechnology sector as a whole, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, together with the country’s life sciences ecosystem players – government institutions, research and education institutions, and businesses – have developed the Life Sciences Roadmap, which outlines a long-term development strategy and measures for the growth of the sector. An expert working group is currently working on updating the roadmap on alternative proteins.
Last updated: 24-10-2024
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