Nonprofit and think tank the Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) has welcomed the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) advice that the UK government support the development of more nutritious and sustainable plant-based foods.

The CCC’s Seventh Carbon Budget (CB7) highlights the importance of developing tastier and more affordable foods, such as plant-based meat, as part of a series of measures needed to address the climate impacts of UK diets. The CCC advised that increased consumption of plant-based foods would lead to significant public health benefits.

As other sectors of the economy decarbonise, the CCC’s analysis forecasts that agriculture – currently 11% of UK GHG emissions – will be the second highest-emitting sector by 2040, after aviation. 

Peer-reviewed research shows that plant-based meat causes up to 94% less emissions than conventional meat, while a separate analysis has found that because options such as plant-based meat require much less land, they can enable increased domestic food production and reduced reliance on imports.

Linus Pardoe, Senior UK Policy Manager at GFI Europe, said: “The Climate Change Committee is clear – we cannot continue to shy away from the need to diversify our protein sources to deliver more nutritious diets and meet our climate targets.

“Providing more plant-based meat and dairy options, as well as plant-based whole foods, can unlock new economic opportunities across the UK while helping people to live healthier lives without the need for huge changes to their eating habits.” 

A growing body of research now points to plant-based meat’s health benefits:

• A review by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) quoted in the CCC report found that plant-based meat scored highly in areas such as cholesterol reduction, weight loss and gut health.
• Spanish researchers, in a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomised controlled trials covering 369 participants, found that replacing conventional with plant-based meat for between one and eight weeks reduced LDL (or ‘bad’) cholesterol and helped with weight management.

Plant-based meat and dairy are becoming mainstream in the UK. GFI Europe’s analysis of retail sales data found that consumers spent nearly £1 billion on these products in 2023, and the Food Standards Agency’s research found that 27% of UK adults buy plant-based meat once a month.

However, a citizens’ panel organised by the CCC said the price of plant-based food needs to be reduced to make these options more attractive, and diversity of choice is crucial. 

The CCC report estimates that expanding the availability of plant-based meat and dairy options and whole plant-based foods could create net benefits of £900 million for the UK economy by 2040. It also suggests that developing cheaper plant-based meat and dairy options could lead to slight reductions in household food costs in the long term.

The report draws on a case study highlighting the potential for plant-based meat and other alternative proteins to create opportunities for businesses and arable farmers in East Anglia, and a Green Alliance report estimating this sector could be worth up to £6.8 billion to the UK economy annually and create 25,000 jobs by 2035.

Dr Sarah Nájera Espinosa, who led the LSHTM study cited by the CCC, said: “It is encouraging to see recognition of the health-climate link, with dietary changes highlighted as a key solution. While plant-based whole foods are the ‘gold standard’ for a healthy and sustainable diet, consumption remains low. 

“Encouraging both plant-based whole foods and carefully selected novel alternatives may be a more effective way to drive dietary change. My research found that options such as legume-based drinks and legume and mycoprotein-based meats offer a promising and accessible route to transforming food systems and diets.”

Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Project Leader for the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), which is examining how to make options such as plant-based meat more appealing to consumers, said: “Novel protein sources are absolutely key to transforming our food system and creating a more sustainable and healthier future. Our vision at NAPIC is to make alternative proteins go mainstream and achieve planetary health impacts.

“CB7 marks a significant step toward achieving climate targets while enhancing public health. By driving the development of tasty, healthy, affordable, accessible alternative protein solutions, we can create a resilient, nutritious, and future-ready food ecosystem.”