The Challenge Of Protein Crops As A Sustainable Source Of Food And Feed For The Future

Grain legumes, together with quinoa and amaranth (pseudocereals) and other crops are attractive candidates to satisfy the growing demand for plant protein production worldwide for food and feed. Despite their high value, many protein crops have not been adequately assessed and numerous species are underutilized. Special attention has to be paid to genetic diversity and landraces, and to the key limiting factors affecting yield, including water deficiency and other abiotic and biotic stresses, in order to obtain stable, reliable and sustainable crop production through the introduction and local adaptation of genetically improved varieties. Legumes, the main protein crops worldwide, contribute to the sustainable improvement of the environment due to their ability to fix nitrogen and their beneficial effects on the soil. They play a key role in the crop diversification and sustainable intensification of agriculture, particularly in light of new and urgent challenges, such as climate change and food security. In addition, the role of legumes in nutrition has been recognized as a relevant source of plant protein, together with other benefits for health. Chapters dealing with common bean, lupine, soybean, lentil, cowpea and Medicago are included in this book. Most contributions deal with legumes, but the significant number of papers on different aspects of quinoa gives an idea of the increasing importance of this protein crop. Pseudocereals, such as quinoa and amaranth, are good sources of proteins. Quinoa and amaranth seeds contain lysine, an essential amino acid that is limited in other grains. Nutritional evaluations of quinoa indicate that it constitutes a source of complete protein with a good balance among all of the amino acids needed for human diet, and also important minerals, vitamins, high quality oils and flavonoids. Other protein crops also included in this book are hemp, cotton and cereals (maize, wheat and rice). Although cereals protein content is not high, their seeds are largely used for human consumption. In this book are included articles dealing with all different aspects of protein crops, including nutritional value, breeding, genetic diversity, biotic and abiotic stress, cropping systems or omics, which may be considered crucial to help provide the plant proteins of the future. Overall, the participation of 169 authors in 29 chapters in this book indicates an active scientific community in the field, which appears to be an encouraging reflect of the global awareness of the need for sustainability and the promising future of proteins crops as a source of food and feed.

Protein plays a critical role in human nutrition. Although animal-derived proteins constitute the majority of the protein we consume, plant-derived proteins can satisfy the same requirement with less environmental impact. Sustainable Protein Sources allows readers to understand how alternative proteins such as plant, fungal, algal, and insect protein can take the place of more costly and less efficient animal-based sources. Sustainable Protein Sources presents the various benefits of plant and alternative protein consumption, including those that benefit the environment, population, and consumer trends. The book presents chapter-by-chapter coverage of protein from various sources, including cereals and legumes, oilseeds, pseudocereals, fungi, algae, and insects. It assesses the nutrition, uses, functions, benefits, and challenges of each of these proteins. The book also explores opportunities to improve utilization and addresses everything from ways in which to increase consumer acceptability, to methods of improving the taste of products containing these proteins, to the ways in which policies can affect the use of plant-derived proteins. In addition, the book delves into food security and political issues which affect the type of crops that are cultivated and the sources of food proteins. The book concludes with required consumer choices such as dietary changes and future research ideas that necessitate vigorous debate for a sustainable planet. Introduces the need to shift current animal-derived protein sources to those that are more plant-based Presents a valuable compendium on plant and alternate protein sources covering land, water, and energy uses for each type of protein source Discusses nutritive values of each protein source and compares each alternate protein to more complete proteins Provides an overview of production, including processing, protein isolation, use cases, and functionality Presents solutions to challenges, along with taste modulation Focuses on non-animal derived proteins Identifies paths and choices that require consumer and policymaker debate and action

Sustainable Protein Sources: Advances for a Healthier Tomorrow, Second Edition explores alternative proteins, including plant, fungal, algal and insect proteins that can take the place of meat as sustainable sources to satisfy human protein needs. This revised edition presents the benefits of plant and alternative protein consumption, including those that benefit the environment, population, and consumer trends and contains new chapters on potato protein, faba bean, chickpea, and coconut. Organized by protein, chapters also cover cereals and legumes, oilseeds, pseudocereals, fungi, algae, insects and fermentation-derived dairy and meat proteins paying particular attention to the nutrition, uses, functions, benefits, and challenges of each. The book also explores ways to improve utilization and addresses everything from consumer acceptability, methods of improving the taste of products containing these proteins and ways in which policies can affect the use of alternate proteins. In addition, the book addresses sustainable protein as a pathway to securing the food supply and considers regenerative versus extractive agriculture alongside new methods in farming and water usage. Introduces the need to shift from animal-derived to plant-based protein and fermentation derived proteins Discusses nutritive values of each protein source and compares each alternate protein to more complete proteins Provides an overview of production, including processing, protein isolation, use cases and functionality

Future Proteins: Sources, Processing, Applications and the Bioeconomy presents sources of alternative proteins and the novel processing technologies associated with these new proteins, including their vast food and non-food applications and their contributions to the circular economy that ties them together. Broken into three sections, chapters focus on alternative proteins including cereals, legumes and pulses, fungi, seafoods, insects, and others before assessing novel production technologies and alternative protein applications. Through the use of content features, specifically definitions, case studies, recent developments, data, and methods, this reference assists readers in understanding how to apply current knowledge and techniques to their research. This book is intended for any stakeholders involved in the alternative protein industry as it provides a clear and comprehensive review of the industry. It will be of interest to food scientists, technologists, food industry personnel, academics and graduate students researching this and related topics. Discusses the various industrial applications of the proposed proteins, from powdered algal for the nutraceuticals market to insect pastas and bacterial-protein flour Provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances on the identification of potentially important compounds in these alternative proteins Outlines advances in proteins characterization, processing and purification techniques Focuses on biologically active proteins and their beneficial impact on humans Addresses implications for legislation that forward novel foods

Future Foods: Global Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainability Challenges highlights trends and sustainability challenges along the entire agri-food supply chain. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this book addresses innovations, technological developments, state-of-the-art based research, value chain analysis, and a summary of future sustainability challenges. The book is written for food scientists, researchers, engineers, producers, and policy makers and will be a welcomed reference. Provides practical solutions for overcoming recurring sustainability challenges along the entire agri-food supply chain Highlights potential industrial opportunities and supports circular economy concepts Proposes novel concepts to address various sustainability challenges that can affect and have an impact on the future generations

Functionality of Food Proteins: Mechanisms, Modifications, Methods of Assessment and Applications provides researchers and users of plant-based proteins with the latest developments on their functionality at the molecular and ingredient level, and in food applications. The book discusses the biological, chemical and physical principles behind the techno-functional and nutritional properties of proteins, existing methods of functionality assessment, and protein modification for functional enhancement. With market demand for protein ingredients, several lesser known sources are being utilized to develop new protein ingredients and products, with some intended to replace, partially or wholly, traditional proteins such as egg, milk, meat, soy and vital gluten. Depending on the source and processing into ingredients, the ability of these proteins to satisfy techno-functional and nutritional requirements in the final food product may differ. Science-based knowledge is needed in the area of protein functionality for making decisions along the value chain, from production on the land to processing and formulation. Provides fundamentals of the properties that contribute to functionality (nutritional and techno-functional properties) of proteins in food systems and their relationship to protein molecular structure Describes fundamentals of the assessment of functional properties of protein with existing definitions and food systems Explores fundamentals of modification strategies employed to alter nutritional and techno-functional properties to enhance value of proteins in food Includes examples of plant protein-based products (in food systems) in which the role of nutritional and techno-functional properties is described

Engineering Plant-Based Food Systems provides a comprehensive, in-depth understanding on the technologies used to create quality plant-based foods. This title helps researchers and food processors gain an understanding of the diverse aspects of plant-based foods, with a focus to meet the current consumers' demand of alternatives to animal products. This is a one-stop source that provides maximum information related to plant-based foods to food science researchers, food engineers and food processing/manufacturers. This book will enhance their understanding of plant-based protein sources, their application, product manufacturing, and bioavailability. In recent years, the emphasis on minimizing environmental footprints (climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity) and human health issues related to animal source food intakes has shifted the attention of researchers, dietitians and health professionals from animal-based diets to diets rich in plant-based foods (legumes, nuts, seeds). Explores the plant sources available for extraction of proteins, the various extraction methods and the quality and functionality of the extracted proteins Describes existing plant-based foods such as beverages, yogurts, spreads, fermented foods and meats Provides information related to various plant based functional components such as polyphenols, phytosterols, aromatics and essential oils, etc.