Global protein demand turns political as trade, feed systems and sustainability pressures converge, says ORF researcher

Protein is increasingly emerging as a political and economic issue, as rising global demand intersects with trade dependencies, feed supply chains and environmental pressures, according to an analysis by K. S. Uplabdh Gopal, Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.

• K. S. Uplabdh Gopal described 'protein politics' as a growing issue linking trade, food security, animal health and environmental sustainability.
• Rising demand for protein has exposed global dependencies on imports, feed systems and commodity markets.
• Alternative proteins were identified as a potential solution, though concerns remain over access, control and value distribution.

Writing as part of a World Health Day 2026 series, Gopal argued that protein has moved beyond nutrition into a wider system-level issue spanning public health, trade policy and ecological risk.

The concept of 'protein politics', he noted, reflected how a single nutrient has become embedded in economic strategy and national planning. As protein consumption rises, governments are increasingly required to manage supply through trade policy, subsidies and domestic production.

In India, this shift has been visible both in consumption patterns and retail markets. Average daily protein intake was estimated at 55.6 grams per person, with nearly half derived from cereals and only 11% from pulses. At the same time, protein-labelled products have expanded rapidly across categories, from beverages to snacks and staple foods.

Gopal highlighted that growing demand has exposed structural dependencies. Despite being one of the world’s largest producers of milk and pulses, India has continued to rely on imports to meet demand for key protein sources. In 2024-25, the country imported 7.3 million tons of pulses worth US$5.5 billion and 16.4 million tons of edible oils valued at US$17.3 billion.

Policy responses have reflected competing pressures between affordability and domestic production. In late 2025, India imposed a 30% import duty on yellow peas after a period of duty-free imports, aiming to protect local farmers while managing consumer prices.

Gopal pointed to similar dynamics globally. China, for example, has sought to reduce its reliance on imported soybeans by reformulating livestock feed, targeting a reduction in soymeal inclusion from around 13% to 10% by 2030.

Such shifts highlighted the importance of feed systems, which underpin much of global protein production. Around 80% of global soybean output is used for animal feed, linking protein consumption directly to land use, commodity markets and environmental impact.

The analysis drew attention to the environmental consequences of these systems, including deforestation and biodiversity loss associated with large-scale soy cultivation. In this context, Gopal argued that protein policy is closely tied to climate and land-use policy.

Animal health systems also formed part of the equation. Intensive livestock production often relies on antibiotics and additives to maintain output, raising concerns about antimicrobial resistance. Measures such as India’s 2019 ban on the use of colistin in food animals reflected growing recognition of these risks.

Looking ahead, Gopal identified alternative proteins as an emerging area of strategic importance, including plant-based products, cultivated meat and precision fermentation. These technologies have been promoted as a way to reduce environmental impact while maintaining protein supply.

However, he cautioned that the development of these sectors has been concentrated in higher-income markets, raising concerns about unequal value distribution. Without targeted policy, lower-income countries risk remaining suppliers of raw materials rather than participants in higher-value processing and innovation.

Citing a 2025 United Nations Development Programme report, the analysis suggested that alternative protein strategies in developing regions should focus on locally relevant crops and production systems, such as pulses, millets or small-scale fermentation.

The broader conclusion was that protein can no longer be treated as a purely nutritional issue. Instead, it sits at the intersection of human health, animal systems and environmental sustainability.

Gopal argued that addressing these challenges would require coordination across disciplines, in line with the 'One Health' framework promoted by the World Health Organization. This approach integrates human, animal and environmental health into a single policy lens.

By linking protein demand to trade, agriculture and ecological systems, the analysis suggested that future food strategies will need to balance affordability, resilience and sustainability, rather than focusing on supply alone.