Beef + Lamb explores 'alternative protein' options

Beef + Lamb launched a project in August to understand the production technologies, business models and products of plant-based, lab-grown and insect proteins. Photo / 123RF

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is carrying out consumer research into alternative proteins in China and San Francisco in response to the rise of the rival products and wants to report back to the sector before the end of the year.

"What we have discovered is that for better or worse alternative protein is here. We are not seeing it as a replacement for now, but we are definitely seeing it as an alternative for certain types of consumers. The consumer research that we doing is to understand who those consumers are and what's driving that behaviour," Damien Cullinan, market innovation manager for Beef + Lamb, told BusinessDesk.

The industry lobby group launched a project in August to understand the production technologies, business models and products, and how consumers are responding along with the threats and opportunities posed by plant-based, lab-grown and insect proteins.

It is trying to separate the "hype from the reality" and "we are going hammer and tongs" to present an internal report within the next four weeks to determine future strategy, said Cullinan. Beef + Lamb will then look at what it presents publically as it doesn't want to provide competitors with "a potential playbook or a look at our strategy," he said.

Cullinan noted that while it's not clear what the eventual impact will be, the technology is moving extremely fast. So-called synthetic or alternative proteins have gone from the world's first lab-grown hamburger unveiled in 2013 to now being available on the menu in some US restaurants.

While Beef + Lamb sees it as an alternative rather than a replacement, others are direr. The Prime Minister's chief science adviser Peter Gluckman has said there is a growing consumer appetite around the world for synthetic alternatives to meat and milk, which poses an "existential threat" to the country's economic fortunes. Earlier this week, Rabobank said alternative proteins are on the verge of becoming mainstream and "stealing" growth from traditional meat products.

Earlier this week, Rabobank said alternative proteins, such as insects (pictured) are on the verge of becoming mainstream and "stealing" growth from traditional meat products. Photo / 123RF

Cullinan said Beef + Lamb is not downplaying the opportunities or challenges to the industry: "We are not burying our heads in the sand and saying there is nothing we can do about it," he said.

"This is definitely something we have been taking seriously for a while and we have a very robust process ... we are quite excited about what we are seeing. There is an opportunity for the industry," he said.

Among other things, he noted plant-based synthetic foods rely on genetically modified ingredients to enhance the taste and texture and that is something New Zealand - and consumers around the world - need to be aware of.

"People are making a bit of a trade-off. If they have decided for whatever reason they don't want product A, product B is not product A but it has got some other stuff they may be unaware of," he said.

Against that backdrop, New Zealand's natural and grass-fed based farming system remains competitive.