Gap resolutIon in sAfety, NuTritional, alLergenicity and Environmental assessments to promote Alternative Protein utilization and the dietary Shift

Project Information

GIANT LEAPS

Grant agreement ID: 101059632

DOI

10.3030/101059632

EC signature date 7 June 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 10 347 863,41

EU contribution

€ 10 272 862,66

Coordinated by

STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GIANT LEAPS (Gap resolutIon in sAfety, NuTritional, alLergenicity and Environmental assessments to promote Alternative Protein utilization and the dietary Shift)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

A transition from animal-based to alternative protein diets is key to reducing agriculture-related environmental impacts and improving human health. Such a dietary shift can simultaneously improve the health and well-being of people, animals and the planet.

The objective of GIANT LEAPS is to deliver the methodologies, datasets and innovations required to accelerate the adoption of healthy and sustainable alternative proteins. Achieving the dietary shift is complex because diverse sets of actors are involved and major knowledge gaps exist related to domains of health and the environment and barriers to adoption. The project aims to guide stakeholders in making substantiated choices towards more sustainable and healthy diets. Nine protein sources have been selected (i.e. fava bean, lentil, oat, quinoa, rapeseed, microalgae, single cell bacteria, crickets and cultured beef) for either targeted or full assessment based on their current level of specification.

The ambition is for 50% of the total European protein dietary intake to be derived from plant or alternative protein sources by 2030, as a stepping stone to reach a higher substitution by 2050. This will be made possible by generating methodologies and comprehensive datasets, and by providing information and solutions on the optimal utilization of alternative proteins to empower policymakers, value chain actors and the general public.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The GIANT LEAPS consortium of 35 partners has collaborated successfully over the first 36 months, engaging stakeholders to gather input and share interim results. To understand consumer preferences across Europe, research was conducted in four countries, comparing various protein sources and exploring trade-offs between aspects such as product format, nutrition, and price.

From a shortlist of nine protein sources, 20 alternative protein ingredients were characterized and studied for their techno-functional potential. This led to the development of prototypes including vegan burgers, meatball analogues, cheese spread, egg replacers for bakery, and milk and yogurt analogues.

Ensuring food safety is essential. GIANT LEAPS is investigating safety and allergenicity using advanced cell-based models to improve assessment quality and reduce animal testing. Ethical approvals were obtained for studies to monitor potential adverse effects post-market and to explore how best to inform consumers about allergenicity risks.

Digestibility and nutritional value are key for health. Improved lab methods were developed and applied to the shortlisted proteins and prototypes. A human study on faba bean and microalgae digestibility is nearly complete. A ring trial across 17 labs to standardize a gut barrier model is also nearing completion.

Sustainability assessments require high-quality data. Significant efforts were made to collect data from partners, stakeholders, and external sources. While data gaps remain, the full Sustainability Assessment Framework has been applied to yellow Chlorella protein as a showcase, with publication in progress.

GIANT LEAPS is building an open, cloud-based data platform to host project and external data on alternative proteins. The platform structure is defined and online, with AI tools in development to optimize data use. Data collection is ongoing.

The project’s main goal is to define perspectives on future European diets optimized for health and environmental impact. Health and environmental parameters have been selected, and initial analyses of current and future dietary scenarios are underway.

Results are shared actively, including 18 peer-reviewed publications, 3000+ followers on LinkedIn, 6-monthly newsletters, 15+ oral presentations at conferences. Educational materials are in development for students and professionals. Young Investigator engagement and skill development is ongoing through webinars and social media campaigns.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Consumer insights research conducted across four European countries — representing different regions — reveals differences in perceptions and expectations regarding alternative protein sources in meat and dairy analogues. Plant-based proteins like potato, rice, and peas are among the most preferred across all countries, though preferences vary for other sources. Differences also exist regarding the trade-off between various product attributes such as product type, nutrition, quality aspects, and price.

Following an analysis of current dietary intake patterns in Europe, the same four countries were assessed for dietary shift scenarios and their impact on nutritional health and environmental factors (greenhouse gas emissions and land use). A plant-forward dietary pattern—characterized by reduced animal protein and increased intake of plant proteins, whole grains, and meat/dairy analogues—ranked highest in both nutritional quality and environmental sustainability. Recent findings submitted for publication confirm that shifting towards less animal protein and more alternative protein can maintain high nutritional quality and reduce environmental impacts. This approach takes into account consumer insights and is based on an algorithm to achieve maximal impact with the least amount of food item changes in consumers’ diets.

Developed food prototypes demonstrate the potential to create nutritionally rich and sensorially appealing alternative protein products using mild processing techniques based on alternative protein sources that are currently not used at a large scale. This provides opportunities for protein diversification and reduced reliance on imported soy.
An integrated Sustainability Assessment Framework has been developed that combines elements of environmental, economic and social sustainability with aspects related to biodiversity and ecosystem services, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and circularity potential. A comprehensive analysis of yellow Chlorella has been completed using this assessment framework and will be published as a showcase.

Alternative protein-related data generated within the project, as well as external data, is captured in the cloud-based data platform. The database structure for this platform was designed, making optimal use of already existing databases and aiming to make the data findable, accessible and interoperable.

Nutritional quality and environmental impacts of dietary patterns DOI:10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101019