Future food: Japanese companies making alternative meat and fish

Food is an essential part of our lives. Since we devote ourselves to it three times a day, every day, adjusting our dining habits can have a big impact. That makes it a good place to start if you want to make your way of living more sustainable. To do that without sacrificing your way of life, companies have developed “alternative foods” — plant-based food made to look and taste like meat or fish. Here we introduce two Japanese companies producing alternative foods.

The key motivation to avoid meat is to reduce carbon emissions, which are higher per kilogram for the production of meat products than for the growing of fruit and vegetables.

Data from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment show that around 12% of greenhouse gas emissions come from food consumption in households. And the carbon footprint of meat (23%) and dairy products (13%) accounts for 36% of total emissions, with the carbon from grain grown to feed livestock further adding to that figure.

Next Meats Co., Ltd.

Next Meats was established in Japan in 2020 and has grown quickly. After just seven months, it listed on the OTC market in the U.S. It has developed a broad network among companies and research institutions.

The company produces plant-based meats that imitate beef, pork and chicken, and also plant-based fish (tuna). Cutting-edge technologies are applied to vegetable protein from soybeans and peas to recreate the original tastes and textures of meat and fish.

With the slogan, “Don’t let the earth end,” the company says its goal is to create a lasting new standard of food and of culture that bring alternative, sustainable foods into the mainstream. Its products are available via its online shop and at partner stores and restaurants.

Azuma Foods Co., Ltd.

When it comes to seafood, the loss of fishery resources is considered more devastating than the issue of carbon emissions. Azuma Foods aims to help prevent overfishing through its development of various kinds of alternative seafood products.

The products include plant-based tuna, salmon and squid, and the company is working to develop more varieties of fish. As well as imitating the distinctive taste and texture of each type of fish, their products look surprisingly realistic, which has impressed Japanese media.

In addition to its environmental benefits, alternative food is becoming increasingly popular worldwide also due to its health advantages. Plant-based foods contain less fat and calories, and more dietary fiber than the animal-based foods they replace.

There is still some room for improvement in the production of alternative foods. As the technology advances we expect to see even better quality, along with a lowering of costs as the market expands. Narrower specification of the actual benefits for the environment from this industry would likely further boost its marketing strength.

Alternative food products have added a new category of food to our world. They allow us to increase the sustainability of our daily meals by enriching our eating habits. It’s an excellent way to remind ourselves in our daily lives to give thanks for our food and those involved in its creation.