Lok Sabha Question No. 965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Development of Alternative Protein
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 965

ANSWERED ON 08 TH  FEBRUARY,2022

## DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN

## 965. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide incentives for development of alternative protein and plant-based meat, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether globally consumers are moving towards plant-based meat for nutritional value and its environment impact, if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government plans to promote plant based industries by educating people, if so, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor;
- (d) the details of institutions involved in R&D in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government is considering to conduct a study in this regard; and
- (f) the measures  taken to revolutionize food  system  and changing  narrative  around consumers'' perception of protein?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a Central Sector Scheme PRADHAN  MANTRI  KISAN  SAMPADA  YOJANA  (PMKSY),  under  which  financial assistance is provided for development of food processing/preservation infrastructure as well as setting  up  of  food  processing  units.  Production  of  alternative  protein  and  plant  based  meat  is eligible for financial assistance under PMKSY.
- (b): The  Organization  for  Economic  Co-operation  and  Development-Food  and  Agriculture Organization (OECD-FAO) in its publication on Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029 has noted that 'Consumers' growing environmental and health-consciousness is expected to support a transition from animal-based protein towards alternative sources of protein, which consumers perceive as healthier alternatives.'

(c): MoFPI  aims  to  promote  preservation  and  processing  of  agro  food  products  and modernization/  capacity  enhancement  of  food  processing  units  including  those  handling  plant based food products.  Under PMKSY, Ministry has approved a total of 288 projects under the Scheme  for  Creation/Expansion  of  Food  Processing  &  Preservation  Capacities  (CEFPPC), 208 projects under the Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure and 34 projects under the Scheme for Creation of Backward & Forward Linkages (CBFL) which handle plant based food products.

(d): Prominent Institutions in the country involved in R&D of alternative protein  and plant based meat are

-  National  Institute  of  Food  Technology  Entrepreneurship  and  Management  (NIFTEM), Thanjavur (under Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India),
-  Central  Food  Technological  Research  Institute  (CFTRI),  Mysore  (under  Council  of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India)
-  Defence  Food  Research  Laboratory  (DFRL),  Mysore  (under  Defence  Research  and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India)

(e): At  present,  no  such  study  is  under  the  consideration  of  Ministry  of  Food  Processing Industries.

(f): MoFPI, through its umbrella scheme of PMKSY and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME), supports creation of modern food processing infrastructure in the country with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail, reduction in post harvest losses, increase in the levels of processing, availability of  nutritious  food  through  fortification,  adherence  to  prescribed  food  standards  and  research initiatives.  However,  it  has  not  undertaken  any  initiative  specifically  aimed  at  consumer's perception of protein.

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