Alternative dietary proteins can be derived from plants, algae, fungi and insects. However, their nutritional value is yet to be fully understood and the digestibility of protein from these alternative foods is insufficiently documented. (Photo: Noemí Jiménez/Pexels)
The IAEA is launching a new Coordinated Research Project (CRP) to assess the digestibility of protein and amino acids from alternative dietary protein sources to support adequate protein intake and improve nutrition and health outcomes.
The project will also evaluate protein and amino acid requirements for mothers and children. The findings will help programme managers and policymakers design better dietary guidelines that ensure optimum protein intake and improve public health nutrition.
By 2050, the world's population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people, making it increasingly challenging to meet essential amino acid requirements across all age groups. Protein intake in low- and middle-income countries is far below the global average and is predominantly plant-based, whereas in high-income countries, protein intake is higher and mainly comes from animal sources. Diets based largely on animal-sources are often associated with intensive livestock production, which can have a significant environmental impact.
Protein from Alternative Sources
In this context, alternative dietary protein sources, which may be more climate-smart and sustainable, have been proposed as a solution.
In most cases, they also contain high levels of protein and other nutrients such as iron, zinc and essential fatty acids.
Alternative dietary proteins can be derived from plants (legumes and pulses, cereals, pseudo-cereals, oilseeds), algae, fungi and insects (beetles, crickets, termites, mealworm, silkworm). However, their nutritional value is yet to be fully understood and the digestibility of protein from these alternative foods is insufficiently documented.
There is also insufficient data on amino acid requirements in vulnerable population groups such as mothers and children.
The new Coordinated Research Project, Assessment of Protein Quality from Alternative Protein Sources and Amino Acid Requirements , aims to generate new information on protein quality from alternative sources and amino acid requirements in diverse population groups.
The project will:
- Test the acceptability of diet formulations containing alternative dietary protein sources.
- Assess the amino acid profile of alternative dietary protein sources.
- Assess the effect of factors related to amino acid bioavailability such as processing, anti-nutritive factors and food matrix.
- Perform method validation and optimization in pilot studies.
For example, digestibility results for the same food group derived from animal studies will be compared with those derived from using the Dual Stable Isotope Tracer (DSIT) approach.
This CRP aligns with the Atoms4Food Initiative launched in 2023 by the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Atoms4Food provides countries with innovative solutions to enhance agricultural and livestock productivity, manage natural resources, reduce food losses, ensure food safety and improve nutrition. It does so by applying nuclear techniques across the entire continuum, from farm to fork to human health.
The findings of the research project will support the development of dietary guidelines to improve nutrition and health outcomes. The results will also expand the joint FAO-IAEA database on protein digestibility from human foods and inform future work on optimising protein intake for balanced nutrition and health across all age and physiological groups.
The CRP will be implemented in two separate but related parts:
The first part will assess protein and amino acid digestibility in alternative dietary protein sources, including edible insects, algae, microalgae, certain fish species, single-cell and mycoproteins. The assessment will be conducted using the DSIT approach.
The second part will assess amino acid requirements in mothers and children in the period spanning pre-pregnancy, pregnancy (with serial measurements in first, second and third trimesters) and from 0-6 months of age. This part will use the 13-carbon labelled Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO) method.
How to Join the CRP
Participation in this Coordinated Research Project is open to all member countries. Research Contracts are awarded to institutes in low- and middle-income countries if they can effectively carry out the research. Research agreements, under which no financial support is provided, are generally awarded to institutes in high-income countries.
Participating institutions must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrated ability to implement the activities, including qualified staff and adequate laboratory capacity.
- Experience working with alternative dietary protein sources, especially novel foods such as edible insects, micro-algae, mycoproteins and others.
- Previous work on maternal and child health indicators, especially during pregnancy and infancy.
The following will be considered added advantages:
- Previous work in protein and amino acid digestibility in foods using stable isotopes.
- Previous work on protein and amino acid requirements assessment.
- Demonstrated strategic partnerships at both the local and international level to provide technical and analytical support.
