Contents
Introduction
According to NFHS-5, 35.5% of children are stunted and 57% of women are anaemic, signalling a shift from mere food security to nutritional security. Functional foods and smart proteins offer sustainable nutrition aligned with SDG-2.
Why does India need a nutritional transformation?
- The existing food system is cereal-centric due to MSP support for wheat and rice, leading to hidden hunger, low-quality diets, and high lifestyle disorders (obesity, diabetes).
- Thus, India needs a nutritional paradigm shift, not in calories, but in quality of diet.
- Despite being the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and coarse grains, India is a “protein-deficient” and micronutrient deficient nation:
| Indicator | Data |
| Child stunting (NFHS-5) | 35.5% |
| Anaemia among women (NFHS-5) | 57% |
| Average Indian protein intake (ICMR-NIN, 2020) | <60% of recommended daily intake |
What are functional foods and smart proteins?
| Category | Key features | Examples |
| Functional foods | Foods enriched with micronutrients to enhance health and reduce disease risk | Zinc-rich rice (IIRR), Iron-rich pearl millet (ICRISAT), Vitamin-fortified salt |
| Smart proteins | Protein alternatives produced via biotechnology, reducing reliance on livestock | Plant-based meat (GoodDot), Fermentation-based proteins, Cultivated chicken |
- Functional foods use biofortification, 3D printing, nutrigenomics, and bioprocessing.
- Smart proteins are aligned with climate-smart agriculture, addressing UN-FAO estimates that livestock contributes 14.5% of global emissions.
- Singapore (2020) was the first country to approve commercial sale of cultivated chicken.
India’s ecosystem: Progress and opportunities
- Functional foods and smart proteins are recognized under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy.
- Government push through DBT & BIRAC funding.
- In India (as of 2023): 377 alternative protein products from 70 companies, Startups: GoodDot, Blue Tribe Foods, Evo Foods, Zydus Lifesciences investing in precision fermentation and CCMB funded ₹ 4.5 crore for cultivated meat R&D.
- Economic Opportunities as global plant-based protein market value by 2030: $85 billion — UBS and $240 billion — Credit Suisse.
- India can become a global smart protein manufacturing hub.
Policy and regulatory challenges (critical analysis)
| Challenge | Consequence |
| No FSSAI regulatory clarity for cultivated meat / fermentation proteins | Delays innovation, lowers investor confidence |
| Lack of infrastructure for precision fermentation | Import dependency |
| Regulatory overlap: DBT–FSSAI–MoFPI | Slows approvals |
Food systems scholars warn of a potential “corporate capture of food biotechnology”, concentrating profits in few companies. To avoid this, policies must ensure:
- Standards for labelling, traceability, allergen risk
- Farmer inclusion in value chains (e.g., legumes supply for plant protein)
Approaches to address skepticism:
- Managing public perception challenges like “Lab-grown” nature creates consumer distrust, cultural/religious hesitations. Low awareness about environmental footprint of conventional livestock.
- Transparent communication like Singapore’s Food Agency did.
- Public trials, school nutritional programmes featuring fortified foods.
- Clear front-of-pack labelling.
- Behavioral science shows that taste, price, and familiarity drive adoption more than environmental concerns.
Conclusion
As Amartya Sen emphasizes in “Development as Freedom,” true development expands choices. Functional foods and smart proteins expand India’s dietary freedom, ensuring nutrition, sustainability, and food justice.
