- ComMEATted Project -
The ComMEATted project, Committed to the responsible development of meat replacement products and practices: comparing multidimensional barriers and potentials in European countries [JPI HDHL "FOODRETEC"], winner of the FOODRETEC/JPI HDHL 2023 call for proposals, officially commences today for a duration of 36 months. It will examine, from an interdisciplinary perspective and across 5 countries (France, Ireland, Norway, Austria, Romania), how a dietary transition towards reduced meat consumption (potentially relying on the consumption of plant proteins, insects, and synthetic meat) can be possible and under what conditions.
Funded by national research agencies, ComMEATted, led by DCS, involves around twenty colleagues.
European research project launched!
Facilitating the transition to sustainable protein consumption:
Traditional eating habits and cultural norms vary widely across Europe, creating a complex landscape for the introduction of alternative proteins. To address this complexity, the project adopts an innovative approach that considers various contextual factors, including social, cultural, regulatory, economic, psychological, ethical, religious and ideological dimensions. ComMEATted ensures active involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders (e.g., consumers, policymakers, NGOs, industry, and media representatives) throughout the research process. This collaborative approach to knowledge creation offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to alternative proteins.
Elisabeth Lambert (PI), CNRS Research Professor, Nantes/DCS.
News
A ground-breaking scientific study reveals the extent of the lobbying orchestrated by the meat industry and its repercussions on European agricultural policy, 4 November 2024
https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/l-info-de-france-inter/l-info-de-france-inter-3564170
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Proteins at the Heart of Contemporary Issues - Exploring Tomorrow's Food Proposals, 29 October 2024
A day co-organized by SADAPT (INRAe-APT and UPS) and the ANCA Chair of AgroParisTech (APT Foundation & APT).
With:
- Claire Rogel-Gaillard, Research Director in Animal Genetics, INRAE
- François Mariotti, Professor of Nutrition, AgroParisTech, UMR Physiology of Nutrition and Eating Behavior (AgroParisTech-INRAE-University Paris-Saclay)
- Céline Laisney, Director, AlimAvenir Foresight and Market Intelligence Firm
- Sandrine Barrey, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Solidarities, Societies, Territories (LISST)
Testimonies from innovators in the food sector: Kedelai, Cocoriton, Inovea, Les Minuscules, Les Frimeuses, etc.
"Controversies Surrounding Meat Substitutes: Presentation of the ANR ComMEATed Program (April 2024-2026), Methodology, and Initial Results for France"
More info…
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SIAL The world's largest food innovation exhibition, 19-23 October 2024 - Paris North Villepinte
ComMEATted Researchers Engage with Future Food Trends at SIAL 2024
The ComMEATted project team took part in SIAL, a key event for exploring the trends and challenges of tomorrow's food systems. Our researchers engaged in discussions on food innovations and meat alternatives, contributing to an interdisciplinary reflection on future food transitions.
https://www.sialparis.com/en
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Reducing the plant protein deficit of the European Union, 8 October 2024
The European arable crop sector supplied 64 million tonnes of crude protein in 2023-2024. However, this volume does not cover all the EU needs of the food, feed and industrial sectors...
The European Commission has published a wide overview of the plant protein market in the EU, from supply and demand to CAP interventions and national initiatives.
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Food labelling: Judgment of the EU Court in Case C-438/23 - Protéines France, 4 October 2024
Protéines France and Others: On 4 October 2024, the Court of Luxembourg ruled that a Member State may not prohibit the use of terms traditionally associated with products of animal origin to designate a product containing vegetable proteins.
[CJUE, aff. C-438/23 du 4 octobre 2024, Protéines France e.a.: la Cour de Luxembourg admet ce 4 octobre 2024 qu'un Etat membre ne peut pas interdire l'utilisation de termes traditionnellement associés aux produits d'origine animale pour désigner un produit contenant des protéines végétales.]
(case available in French and in Danish)
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-10/cp240168fr.pdf ;
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62023CJ0438
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Seminar - Controversies Surrounding Meat Substitutes in Europe: Presentation of the ANR ComMEATed Program, 4 October 2024
[CERTOP/SANTAL-LISST SEMINAR]
Methodology, and Initial Results for France - With the participation of Sandrine Barrey, Mathieu Aristegui, Enola Comte, and Julien Figeac
Presentation of the ANR ComMEATed program at the LISST and CERTOP cross-disciplinary health seminar (Université Toulouse Jean-Jaurès), as well as the methodology and initial results of WP2 France.
This generated a lot of interest.
Photo from left to right: Mathieu Aristegui, Julien Figeac, Sandrine Barrey --- --- --- --- ---
Publication of the AlimAlternatives Study, September 2024
An independent study (350 pages) that provides an overview of the evolution of dietary patterns, the growing consumption of plant-based substitutes for animal products, and the outlook for various alternative protein sources. Details of the 10 chapters and membership conditions for the program, which also includes a monthly monitoring service, are available.
More info…
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The UK becomes the first European country to approve lab-grown meat (starting with pet food), 17th July 2024
More info here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/17/uk-first-european-country-to-approve-cultivated-meat-starting-with-pet-food
and here in French: https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/alimentation-la-viande-cultivee-en-laboratoire-autorisee-au-royaume-uni
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Project
Project Summary: This project aims at answering the following question: Under which conditions are European consumers and stakeholders in five national contexts (Austria, France, Ireland, Norway and Romania) ready to opt for diets that include alternative proteins (cell-based, plant-based and insect-based meat)? It thus ambitions to build knowledge to facilitate a transition towards the responsible production, provision and consumption of novel meat replacements in Europe. Our project innovates by considering consumer choices in context: social, cultural, regulatory, economic, psychological and ethical, religious or ideological grounds because of complex food practices in Europe. Our objective is to thereby map a range of levers that may facilitate a transition to producing, making, selling, cooking and eating healthy alternative proteins in Europe. This proposal includes exploratory research engaging end-users: consumers but also all stakeholders in the food system. It also aims at building more knowledge on narratives and discourses around meat-alternatives promoted by stakeholders in various national contexts (the food Industry, the agricultural sector, consumers’ associations, scientists, religious and ethical communities, the Media), on the domestic and EU regulatory governance, on labelling as well as on consumers’ attitudes towards novel foods (considering their current food regime, trust in institutions and innovations, beliefs and values, psychological and other determinants). By offering a comparison between national contexts, it will better inform national and European stakeholders, in particular policy-makers. The consortium’s strength results from a strong and pluridisciplinary collaboration between partners from the five national contexts with socio-professional actors sitting on an advisory board.
- ComMEATted Project -
elisabeth.lambert@cnrs.fr
Webmaster:
katia.barragan@univ-nantes.fr