Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
- Society’s approach to food is changing, with the next major shift focusing on functional foods and smart proteins that promote better health and sustainability.
Functional Foods
- They are enriched foods that promote health or prevent disease, such as vitamin-enriched rice or omega-3-fortified milk.
- They leverage several technologies such as nutrigenomics (the study of how nutrition interacts with genes), bio-fortification, 3D food printing, and bioprocessing.
| Smart proteins – It refers to proteins sourced using biotechnology that aim to reduce reliance on conventional production. – These include plant-based proteins (restructured extracts from legumes, cereals, or oilseeds to mimic animal meat and dairy); fermentation-derived proteins (produced by microbial systems); and cultivated meat (animal cells grown in bioreactors without slaughter). |
Need In India
- India faces a deeply uneven nutritional landscape, with over one-third of children stunted and persistent urban-rural disparities in protein intake. As incomes rise, the focus must shift from food security to nutritional security, emphasizing diets rich in proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Achieving this requires balancing nutrition goals with environmental sustainability by building a resilient, climate-conscious food system.
- Innovations like functional foods and smart proteins offer scalable solutions by enhancing the nutritional value of everyday diets without exacerbating ecological pressures.
Status In India
- India is making steady progress in functional foods and smart proteins under its BioE3 policy, with support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BIRAC.
- Key developments include bio-fortified crops like zinc-rich rice (IIRR, Hyderabad) and iron-rich pearl millet (ICRISAT), alongside private sector investments from Tata, ITC, and Marico in fortified staples.
- The smart protein sector is expanding, with over 70 brands offering 377 plant-based meat, egg, and dairy products as of 2023. Startups like GoodDot and Evo Foods are leading innovation, while Zydus LifeSciences entered fermentation-based proteins in 2024.
- The DBT has also funded cultivated meat research at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.
- However, regulatory clarity from FSSAI and infrastructure for large-scale fermentation and quality testing remain key challenges.
| Global Scenario – Japan pioneered the concept and regulation of functional foods in the 1980s. Smart proteins are a newer innovation, with Singapore becoming the first country to approve cultivated chicken for commercial sale in 2020. – China has integrated alternative proteins into its food security and innovation agenda, while the European Union is promoting sustainable protein production through its “Farm to Fork” strategy. |
Way Ahead
- To advance nutritional security, India must harness the potential of functional foods and smart proteins, which can also unlock significant economic and environmental benefits.
- With the global plant-based food market projected to reach up to $240 billion by 2030, India could emerge as a key supplier, generating jobs across agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. Environmentally, bio-based proteins offer a path to lower emissions and resource stress.
Conclusion
- However there are challenges including regulatory gaps, risks of mislabelled products, limited infrastructure, and public scepticism toward lab-grown foods.
- To address these, India needs a clear national regulatory framework under FSSAI, coordinated policy support, and robust public-private partnerships to scale biomanufacturing and localise technologies like precision fermentation. Public awareness and farmer inclusion in new value chains will be critical to ensuring equitable and sustainable growth.
Source :TH
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