On the 12th and 13th of July 2023, World Animal Protection, Kenya, organized a virtual and in-person event for the 2nd Africa Protein Summit to discuss issues concerning excessive animal protein consumption and the impact on animal health, human health, and our environment.
Intensive animal agriculture has major impacts on the environment as it contributes significantly to global warming through the emission of greenhouse gasses such as methane and nitrous and the displacement of biomass carbon on the land used to support livestock production. Climate change significantly threatens global food security, human health, and the environment.
Also, traditional animal-based diets, particularly those high in red and processed meats, have been associated with increased risks of certain chronic diseases such as cancer and high blood pressure. As we become conscious of our health, animal well-being, and the health of the environment, alternative proteins have the potential to address the issues of food resource scarcity, climate change, environmental degradation, deforestation, and food access and affordability by contributing immensely to more sustainable global food security through the diversification of our protein sources and reducing the overdependence on traditional animal agriculture.
These spoke to why World Animal Protection organized this summit that brought together experts from various fields in food security, food safety, climate change, environmental health, human nutrition, human health, animal health and welfare, protein industry, food systems, and agriculture.
At the summit, One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) had an opportunity to make a presentation on “Introduction to Alternative Proteins Africa (APA),” a project of OHDI established as a resource hub and platform to promote knowledge, information, research, and be at the forefront of movement building for the growth and advancement of the alternative proteins sector in Africa.
James Sunday Godwin, who made the presentation, elucidated and communicated the core vision and objective of the Alternative Proteins Africa Project to the conference participants. This was a significant step to increasing awareness, knowledge, acceptability, and adoption of alternative protein sources, such as the locally sourced, plant-based food in Africa, while reducing overdependence on animal-sourced food protein.
We invite you to support and follow us as we embark on issues that would help to reduce human impact on our environment while making it a habitable and safe place for everyone. Download the presentation below, and you can follow us on our social media pages (Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) to be up-to-date on recent activities.