LEAF AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE - TOWARD CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

Abstract

The projection that the world's population will reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050 serve as a clear signal for the urgent need to find sustainable solutions that can provide enough food for the growing population, along with reducing environmental impact. To achieve this, a global transition towards sustainable nutrition that fulfills all nutritional requirements is essential. Currently, the primary sources of protein, essential macronutrients in our diet, are of animal origin. This presents a significant challenge for the environment, given that the livestock system is responsible for emitting significant amount of greenhouse gases (GHG). As a result, finding alternative protein sources becomes imperative goal of circular bioeconomy in order to meet the demands for this crucial macronutrient while respecting the principles of sustainable development. Leafy biomass presents a good alternative protein source with respect to both nutritive and sustainability demands.

Prognoza da će do 2050. godine na planeti biti gotovo 10 milijardi ljudi predstavlja signal za hitno pronalaženje održivih rešenja koja bi omogućila dovoljno hrane za rastuću populaciju uz smanjenje ekološkog otiska. Da bi se ovo postiglo neophodna je globalna tranzicija prema održivoj ishrani koja pritom ispunjava sve nutritivne zahteve. Osnovni izvori proteina, esencijalnih makronutrijenata, u ishrani su životinjskog porekla, što predstavlja ozbiljan problem za životnu sredinu, jer je samo stočarska industrija odgovorna za značajnu emisiju gasova staklene baste. Pronalaženje alternativnih izvora proteina tako postaje imperativ cirkularne bioekonomije kako bi se zadovoljile potrebe za ovim makronutrijenom uz istovremeno poštovanje principa održivog razvoja. Lisna biomasa, predstavlja dobar alternativni izvor proteina i sa nutritivnog i održivog aspekta.