Supplying the population with high-quality protein is a major food-security challenge. Today, the supply is based on meat and dairy products as well as grains, followed by fish, eggs, vegetables and legumes. Although the dairy and meat products are for the most part from Switzerland, more and more soya and grains are imported for their production. These feed imports have come under increasing criticism from society on environmental and ethical grounds.
On the one hand, animal proteins are of high nutritional quality. On the other, their production entails considerable negative environmental impacts. Although plant proteins have a lighter environmental footprint, they are also on average substantially lower in essential amino acids. Against this backdrop, we must answer the twin questions of how to optimise the protein supply for humans and animals in terms of sustainability, enjoyment, health and food security, and how to decrease dependence on feed imports.
