Brief Context
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.
Source Content
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