'Unscratched Lottery Ticket' Climate Change's Emerging 'Best Value' Food Choices

Plant-based vegan patties sold by the startup company Beyond Meat, headquartered in California, USA.
[Photo by Instagram capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The global community is suffering from climate change. While climate disasters such as heatwaves and droughts are increasing, the rate of sea level rise has accelerated nearly threefold compared to the period from 1901 to 1971. Recently, the glacier collapse disaster in Italy is also known to have been influenced by global warming.

As the severity of the climate crisis grows, public awareness has increased, and countries around the world have responded by establishing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among these, menus using plant-based alternative meat are emerging as a dining trend.

Plant-based alternative meat is food made by extracting wheat gluten or soy protein from plants to be enjoyed like meat. Although it contains no meat, it offers a similar taste and texture. The variety of foods available ranges from dumplings to chicken, and they are easily purchased at regular supermarkets or online shopping malls, leading to a growing number of consumers seeking them. According to data from the Korea International Trade Association’s International Trade Research Institute, global consumption of alternative meat products is expected to grow from 24 million tons in 2025 to 65 million tons in 2030, and 97 million tons in 2035.

Plant-based alternative meat is also emerging as a solution to climate change. It helps prevent the destruction of forests, which are greenhouse gas absorbers, and reduces methane, a greenhouse gas emitted by livestock. Recently, the UK’s Guardian reported, using a report from the leading consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), that the investment effect of plant-based alternative meat surpasses that of other eco-friendly industries.

When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of climate change responses, plant-based alternative meat overwhelmingly stands out. According to the report, the amount of greenhouse gases reduced per dollar invested in plant-based alternative meat is three times higher than eco-friendly cement and more than seven times higher than eco-friendly buildings. It is about eleven times higher compared to zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars.

This is analyzed to be due to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from growing plants for alternative meat. In contrast, the traditional industry of raising livestock to produce meat emits overwhelming amounts of greenhouse gases, but using alternative meat can reduce these emissions. In fact, the greenhouse gases produced in beef production are known to be 6 to 30 times higher than those from tofu, a protein block made from soybeans.

For this reason, alternative meat is gradually growing from a niche food to a mainstream one. According to BCG, investments in alternative proteins such as plant-based alternative meat and cell-based meat manufactured in factories increased from $1 billion (about 1.3 trillion KRW) in 2019 to $5 billion (about 6.5 trillion KRW) last year. The share of alternative meat in total protein foods is also growing. While alternative meat accounted for only 2% of total protein foods in 2020, it is estimated to rapidly expand to 11% by 2035.

Malte Clausen, an expert at BCG, said, "If alternative proteins are widely accepted, they can play a role in responding to climate change," adding, "Electric vehicles, wind power, and solar power are excellent means for emission reduction, but I have never seen anything comparable to alternative meat in terms of investment."

He also called it "an untapped opportunity for alternative proteins," predicting that as technology advances, quality improves, production increases, and sales promotion regulations are eased, the alternative meat market could grow much faster.

Plant-based meat alternatives are being sold at major domestic supermarkets and other retailers. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, domestic companies are also showing interest in the alternative meat market. Recently, traditional Korean food companies such as Pulmuone and Nongshim have opened restaurants where customers can taste alternative meat dishes. There is also a trend toward large-scale industrialization, including the establishment of specialized alternative meat brands.

However, some voices criticize that commercialized alternative meat is disrupting the traditional livestock production system. Another issue raised is that Korea’s self-sufficiency rate for alternative meat is very low. In Korea’s case, it is known that raw materials for alternative meat, such as soybeans, edible insects, and mushroom mycelium, are imported and dependent on foreign sources.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.