THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, SEPTEMBER 28, 2026
India’s annual
average per-capita protein consumption is projected to more than triple from
9.5 kg in 2025 to around 30 kg by 2070, creating far-reaching implications for
nutrition, food security, agriculture, livelihoods and the environment,
according to a new report by Asia
Research & Engagement (ARE) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The report, titled Charting
India’s Protein Transition, was launched at the FICCI symposium ‘Protein for India: Nutrition, Business,
Sustainability and Policy Perspective’ at FICCI Federation House in New
Delhi. It warns that without significant changes to the way protein is produced
and consumed, India’s growing demand could place substantial additional
pressure on natural resources and contribute significantly to food-system
emissions.
Under a
business-as-usual pathway, annual protein-related emissions could reach 1.92
gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2070, nearly eight times the
estimated climate-safe threshold of 0.25 gigatonnes, the report said.
Cumulative excess emissions could exceed 44 gigatonnes of CO2
equivalent.
The projections
assume added significance as India and Southeast Asia are expected to account
for 31 per cent of global agricultural and fisheries consumption by 2033,
highlighting the growing influence of the region on global food demand.
The report, however,
outlines pathways through which India could meet rising protein requirements
while substantially reducing environmental pressures. It says improvements in
methane management, animal feed, manure management, deforestation, energy use
and food loss and waste could bring annual protein-related emissions down to
0.73 gigatonnes by 2070.
Greater
diversification of protein sources could reduce emissions further to 0.50
gigatonnes, while an integrated pathway combining production improvements and
protein diversification could bring the figure close to 0.30 gigatonnes.
Pulses are identified
as a particularly significant opportunity for India, with pulse-derived protein
consumption projected to increase from 3.5 million tonnes in 2025 to 9.3
million tonnes by 2070. This would make pulses the country’s second-largest
protein category after dairy.
The growth in demand
could create new opportunities for farmers, food processors and businesses
involved in plant-based proteins. The report also points to a major domestic
manufacturing opportunity, noting that India currently imports almost 90 per
cent of its processed plant protein isolates.
At the same time,
supply-side constraints could become more pronounced as protein demand rises.
The report estimates shortages of 35.6 per cent in green fodder, 10.5 per cent
in dry fodder and 44 per cent in concentrate feed ingredients. Climate-related
pressures could further increase volatility in feed availability and production
costs.
The transition will
also have important implications for India’s millions of producers.
Smallholders account for around 72 per cent of the country’s milk production,
while poultry and fisheries depend substantially on contract growers,
fragmented producers and smaller businesses.
The report therefore
calls for targeted finance, procurement reforms, technical assistance and
greater consultation with producers to ensure that farmers and other small
businesses can participate in and benefit from the evolving protein economy.
Rituj Sahu, Director
– Protein Transition/Sustainable Food Systems (India), Asia Research &
Engagement, said India was at a critical point in shaping its future protein
system and that no single sector could address the challenge alone.
“Government and regulators have a role in
strengthening policy support, banks and investors in directing capital towards
the transition, and food and agricultural businesses in improving production,
procurement and protein diversification,” Sahu said.
Jyoti Vij, Director
General, FICCI, said India’s changing protein landscape represented an
opportunity for industry to innovate, invest and build resilient domestic food
value chains.
“In line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, industry can play a key role in meeting evolving consumer needs, strengthening domestic capabilities and creating new opportunities for growth across the protein value chains,” Vij said.
The report emphasises that coordinated action involving policymakers, financial institutions, food and agricultural companies and producers will be crucial as India prepares for a dramatic rise in protein demand. The choices made now, it suggests, could shape not only the country’s future nutrition and food security but also the sustainability and resilience of its wider food system.
