How Alternative Foods Could Reshape Livelihoods

Imagine a rural community reliant on small-scale livestock farming. Here, families have fed herds and tended fields for generations. Now, a newly introduced lab-grown meat product begins to make its way into local supermarkets, offering a glimpse into a future that could drastically change how people work and sustain themselves. How would this modern alternative to traditional animal agriculture affect the livelihoods that families have relied on for decades?

Transforming Diets, Transforming Jobs

As the world increasingly embraces alternative food sources in place of traditional animal-based offerings, the implications are substantial—not only for the environment and animal welfare, but also for the workforce across agro-food sectors. Recent advances in food technology have led to the rise of cell-based meats, plant-based alternatives, and innovative foods derived from algae and insects. These alternatives have received over USD 2.1 billion in investment globally and are being positioned not just as supplementary foods but as primary dietary components aimed at reducing the burden on natural resources (Global Food Institute.)

Exploring the Possibilities and Pitfalls

According to a recent scoping review published in The Lancet Planetary Health, these dietary shifts could significantly reshape employment landscapes, particularly in regions reliant on livestock farming. Jobs directly tied to animal-source foods (ASFs), such as cattle ranching and poultry farming, could decline. While overall employment in alt-ASFs might increase, the distribution of new opportunities won’t be uniform.

Evidence-Based Insights

The review examined 45 studies on the research landscape of livelihoods in the alternative food sector. Highlights suggest that while cell-based foods are less labor-intensive, they will mainly offer high-skilled, well-paid jobs in urban or peri-urban settings in high-income countries. Plant-based foods, on the other hand, are promising for creating jobs in agricultural production but may shift job types rather than generate net job creation.

The Path Forward: Practical Implications

• For Policymakers: Policies should facilitate skill development for transitioning workers and support shifts within industries deeply entrenched in traditional ASFs.
• For Local Health Departments and NGOs: Support local farmers by promoting the cultivation of crops compatible with plant-based food production and by providing training in cell-based technologies.
• For Community Programs: Design inclusive programs that help small-scale farmers adapt to new market demands, for example, by diversifying into crop production suitable for plant-based foods.

Looking Ahead: Barriers and Open Questions

While the trajectory of alternative foods seems promising, adoption isn’t without its barriers, such as regulatory hurdles, high initial investment costs, and cultural acceptance issues. Further research is needed to develop robust, adaptable models showing the socioeconomic impacts of these livelihood shifts. For a just transition, further work is needed to develop a robust framework that accounts for regional contexts and job retraining pathways.

What’s Next?

• Policy Adoption: A sound regulatory environment that supports innovation and ensures fair compensation will be pivotal.
• Funding and Scaling: Adequate investment in public infrastructure and education could help scale alt-based food industries equitably across diverse regions.
• Trust and Acceptance: Community engagement programs could foster trust and acceptance of new food technologies.

Questions to Ponder

• “How might your agency adapt this finding locally?”
• “What resource constraints might hinder application in low-income contexts?”
• “Does the rise of alternative foods challenge your assumptions about dietary best practices?”

The shift from ASFs to alternatives is akin to a seismic shift across the global food economy—one that offers opportunities, but which also presents challenges that must be carefully negotiated.