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Our Future Proteins: A Diversity of Perspectives

Former TABLE intern Wendy Jenkins has recently contributed to an open-access book looking at the many visions on the protein transition, in which over 100 experts present their views on the transition to sustainable protein production and consumption. Their visions cover a wide range of transition directions, from radically rethinking protein production systems to levers of change in shifting protein consumption.

The Landscapes of Italian Food

This book explores contemporary food systems in Italy, covering landscapes, local practices and cultural history. It examines alternative supply chains, such as food cooperatives and community gardens, as well as the responses of large retailers to the environmental concerns of their customers.

Cycle to Farms documents regenerative agriculture

News and resources

As part of the Cycle to Farms project, political scientist Aisha Hassan and agribusiness professional Lukas Paltanavičius are cycling 7,000 km from farm to farm in the EU, the Middle East, and Africa. Their aim is to document regenerative agriculture practices and share their findings with policymakers. They are in the process of making a documentary.

Precision Fermentation Alliance founded

News and resources

Nine members of the precision fermentation industry have announced the founding of a new trade organisation, the Precision Fermentation Alliance, to promote precision fermentation as a contributor to a resilient, sustainable food system. The technology, which reprogrammes microbes to make particular molecules, is well-established for making vaccines and enzymes such as rennet. It has recently been applied in the food sector, for example the dairy-identical whey protein made by Perfect Day (one of the founding partners) is already used in some products available in the United States, including ice cream and cream cheese.

Meat, metrics and mindsets: Exploring debates on the role of livestock and alternatives in diets and farming

Should we eat meat, eggs, dairy and other animal-sourced foods? If so, how should we produce them and how much should we eat? If not, what should we eat instead? These are just some of the more contentious debates about the future of food systems.This Explainer summarises some of the key debates about livestock and its alternatives and describes both the arguments and the evidence underpinning different points of view. We look both at foodstuffs (meat, fish, plants and new foods based on cells grown in bioreactors) and farming methods (both intensive and extensive) with regards to discussions about their environmental, health and social impacts. In so doing, we explore the assumptions and values that often lead stakeholders to differing conclusions about what a sustainable food system looks like.https://doi.org/10.56661/2caf9b92

TABLE Summary series: Rewilding

This is a brief summary of the longer TABLE Explainer “Rewilding and its implications for agriculture”. It aims to illuminate key debates surrounding rewilding. Written by Trish Fisher

TABLE Summary Series: Malnutrition

This is a brief summary of the longer TABLE Explainer "What is malnutrition?" It aims to illuminate key elements of the three forms of malnutrition. Written by Trish Fisher.

TABLE Summary Series: Agricultural Methane

This is a brief summary of two longer TABLE Explainers: "Agricultural methane and its role as a greenhouse gas" "Methane and the sustainability of ruminant livestock". It aims to illuminate key debates regarding agricultural methane’s role in climate change and some of the difficult trade-offs involved when it comes to mitigating agricultural methane. Written by Trish Fisher.

TABLE Summary Series: Ultra-Processed Foods

This is a brief summary of the longer TABLE Explainer “What is ultra-processed food? And why do people disagree about its utility as a concept?” It aims to illuminate key debates surrounding ultra-processed foods. Written by Trish Fisher.