The Great Protein Opportunity

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970.  It was organized in response to population growth with an eye toward the impact every human makes on the Earth.  Denis Hayes, the chief organizer of the first Earth Day said at that time, “It is already too late to avoid mass starvation.”

The FAO and the UN predict global population to reach 9 Billion by 2050, this means we will need to to increase food production by 70%.  Demand for protein (an essential nutrient for growth and health) is expected to rise between 50 and 90% assuming developing countries continue to consume low end quantities of 25 grams of protein per day per person and developed countries consume 50 grams of protein per person per day.

In the USA, 50% of consumers have a goal consumption of protein per day.  87% know that protein builds muscle, 72% know it can help you feel full, and 63% know it is an essential part of weight loss programs.

These statistics prove that whether you’re feeding hungry populations or educated segments, the demand for protein will continue to grow, straining our resources and causing prices to rise and supply to tighten.  This blog is the first in a series titled, Creating Protein Strategy.  Each month we will discuss different considerations in your creation of a protein strategy, and we will highlight how soy protein is a key element in many ways.  But this is not just about soy.  It’s about diversification, flexibility, nutrition, flavor, safety and environmental impact.  Reduce your reliance on one protein and hedge your strategy to create a strong protein platform for your company’s future and the future of our planet.