Future foods for risk-resilient diets.

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Nutrition

Background:

• Future foods, including microalgae, mycoprotein, and mealworms, are recognized for their nutritional value and sustainability.
• Conventional food systems face increasing risks from systemic disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical, yet underappreciated, role of future food farming systems in ensuring essential nutrition during crises.
• To identify and discuss the primary obstacles hindering the realization of this potential.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of existing research on alternative protein sources.
• Assessment of the resilience of future food systems against various systemic disturbances.
• Discussion of socio-economic and technological barriers.

Main Results:

• Future food systems demonstrate significant potential for providing essential nutrients resiliently.
• Systemic disturbances pose a threat to global food security, increasing the importance of alternative food sources.
• Barriers include scalability, consumer acceptance, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure development.

Conclusions:

• Future food systems are vital for enhancing global nutritional security, particularly under conditions of systemic disturbance.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for leveraging the full potential of microalgae, mycoprotein, and insect farming.
• Further research and investment are needed to support the integration of these novel food sources into the global food supply.