Our research projects

Title

Protein Paradoxes: protein supply under the conditions of climate change - production, consumption and human health

Acronym

PRO-PARADOX

Start

01.07.2016

End

31.10.2021

Coordinating Institute

Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB)

Coordinator

Partner

Allocated to research program

Allocated to research program

Summary

The production of food and feed for protein-supply under the conditions of climate change will be one of the major challenges of the coming decades. But protein raises some of the most controversial and paradox issues (e.g., a growing global demand for meat-based protein vs. a higher impact of the production of animal-based protein on climate change, compared to the production of plant-based protein). In this project, the Leibniz Research Alliance Sustainable Food Production and Healthy Nutrition (LRA) as a unique cluster of scientific competency in the field of food production and nutrition will equip postdoctoral scientists with the adequate methodology to tackle the Grand Societal Challenges related to protein production, consumption and health and the protein paradoxes. Our common goals are the following: 1. The project will contribute to the understanding of the global protein production for food and feed under the conditions of climate change and develop suggestions for environmentally sustainable protein production systems. 2. The project will contribute to a general understanding and knowledge of a healthy age-based daily protein intake and develop suggestions for a protein food pyramid. 3. The project will explore the opportunities of smart protein production and the production of functional protein-rich food and develop concepts for the use of new and innovative technologies in protein production and supply. 4. Based on and integrated into the research activities of its partner institutes, we will build and strengthen resilient networks of postdoctoral scientists in order to foster their inter- and transdisciplinary scientific capacities. Within this project, the LRA partner institutions will strengthen the postdoctoral network of their partners, meet relevant stakeholders and elaborate future joint projects in order to secure the sustainable supply of animal- and plant-based protein for current and future generations. The proposed project will provide scientists as well as political decision makers and stakeholders from industry and society with important insights into the entire value chain of proteins. Aspects such as food protein security, processing of proteins into protein-rich foods, quality issues of protein-containing food, consumption, safety, and health aspects as well as economical and societal issues will be covered. By fostering excellent interdisciplinary research of postdoctoral scientists and contributing to tackle the Grand Challenges such as food security and health, the project will benefit the Leibniz Community and the international research community at large.

Funding

Grant agreement number

Funding framework

LFV