Development of plant-derived “alternative seafood” Responding to the food crisis To be sold in March

In response to the global food crisis due to the shortage of marine resources such as fish, a major food manufacturer has developed a new "alternative seafood" using soybeans.

We have developed fish fry for home use with the image of white fish and popcorn shrimp for commercial use with the image of shrimp.

Although it uses plant-derived ingredients such as soybeans, it took a year to develop a unique manufacturing method, and it is said that the ingredients of seaweed are used to bring out the flavor of fish and reproduce the texture that makes the meat loosen.

So far, we have been working on substitute meat hams and sausages using soybeans and konjac, but we are planning to enter the seafood field in earnest and start selling them for commercial and household use from March this year. .

Consumption of seafood continues to expand worldwide along with population growth and economic development in emerging countries.

Under these circumstances, the company wants to proceed with further development in the future and lead to the solution of the issues.

Fumio Maeda, General Manager of Nippon Ham's Processed Foods Business Headquarters, said, "We are developing to expand the possibilities of protein, and we would like to spread it in various forms as ingredients and cooked products."

Accelerating development of alternative proteins

The consumption of seafood in Japan is on the decline, but globally, it is expanding year by year along with population growth and economic development in emerging countries.

According to a survey by FAO = United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in about 50 years until 2019, for example, the annual consumption per person in China has increased about 8 times, and in Indonesia it has increased about 4 times.

Similarly, the global consumption of meat continues to expand, and there are concerns not only about food shortages but also about the impact on the environment due to the increase in the number of livestock raised.

Under such circumstances, processed foods called "alternative proteins" such as alternative meat and alternative seafood made from plant-derived raw materials have appeared.

According to a survey by a private think tank, the global market for alternative proteins for the year before is estimated to be 486.1 billion yen based on shipment value, and is expected to expand to 3.3113 trillion yen, an eightfold increase, by 2030. increase.

For companies, the development of alternative proteins has been accelerated both in Japan and overseas, as it will help solve social issues such as food crises and environmental problems.

This time, with the full-scale entry of a major Japanese food manufacturer, attention will be paid to how far it will lead to the development of the domestic market and future overseas expansion.

*Source: Yano Research Institute, “Survey on the Global Market for Alternative Proteins (Plant-Based Meat, Plant-Based Seafood, Cultured Meat, Cultured Seafood, Insect Protein) (2022)”