Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security?
Food security and environmental quality related to food production are global issues that need urgent solutions. Proteins are crucial for diets, and demand is growing for innovative and more environmentally sustainable sources of protein, like vegetables, microorganisms, and insects, and lab-grown f...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2205 |
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| author | Elena Tamburini David Moore Giuseppe Castaldelli |
| author_facet | Elena Tamburini David Moore Giuseppe Castaldelli |
| author_sort | Elena Tamburini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Food security and environmental quality related to food production are global issues that need urgent solutions. Proteins are crucial for diets, and demand is growing for innovative and more environmentally sustainable sources of protein, like vegetables, microorganisms, and insects, and lab-grown food that can meet nutritional and environmental goals. This study analyzes a time series to assess the sustainability of different protein sources by evaluating their effects on emissions of greenhouse gases and the use of agricultural land while accounting for the carbon sink potential across the supply chain. The study also explores future trends in global protein sources, emphasizing shellfish as a key to achieving food security from both nutritional and environmental perspectives. By reviewing terrestrial livestock, farmed seafood, vegetal proteins, and alternative sources like insects and cultured cells, the study assesses sustainability, food security potential, and challenges from nutritional, environmental, and consumer viewpoints. We conclude that shellfish aquaculture, particularly oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops, has significant potential in enhancing food security, fostering sustainable protein consumption, reducing land use, and contributing to climate change mitigation by sequestering significant amounts of atmospheric carbon. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a05f8080a5c4dbb8eb2ef151837ee26 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a05f8080a5c4dbb8eb2ef151837ee262025-08-20T03:50:20ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011413220510.3390/foods14132205Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security?Elena Tamburini0David Moore1Giuseppe Castaldelli2Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalySchool of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UKDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyFood security and environmental quality related to food production are global issues that need urgent solutions. Proteins are crucial for diets, and demand is growing for innovative and more environmentally sustainable sources of protein, like vegetables, microorganisms, and insects, and lab-grown food that can meet nutritional and environmental goals. This study analyzes a time series to assess the sustainability of different protein sources by evaluating their effects on emissions of greenhouse gases and the use of agricultural land while accounting for the carbon sink potential across the supply chain. The study also explores future trends in global protein sources, emphasizing shellfish as a key to achieving food security from both nutritional and environmental perspectives. By reviewing terrestrial livestock, farmed seafood, vegetal proteins, and alternative sources like insects and cultured cells, the study assesses sustainability, food security potential, and challenges from nutritional, environmental, and consumer viewpoints. We conclude that shellfish aquaculture, particularly oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops, has significant potential in enhancing food security, fostering sustainable protein consumption, reducing land use, and contributing to climate change mitigation by sequestering significant amounts of atmospheric carbon.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2205food securityclimate changeshellfishbivalve mollusksterrestrial livestockalternative protein |
| spellingShingle | Elena Tamburini David Moore Giuseppe Castaldelli Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? Foods food security climate change shellfish bivalve mollusks terrestrial livestock alternative protein |
| title | Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? |
| title_full | Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? |
| title_fullStr | Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? |
| title_short | Global Comparison and Future Trends of Major Food Proteins: Can Shellfish Contribute to Sustainable Food Security? |
| title_sort | global comparison and future trends of major food proteins can shellfish contribute to sustainable food security |
| topic | food security climate change shellfish bivalve mollusks terrestrial livestock alternative protein |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2205 |
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