India’s diets are shifting rapidly from pulses to animal-based proteins, creating a transition that places the country at a “Protein Crossroads”.

Key Problems Emerging from the Shift

• Environmental Stress: Agriculture accounts for 14% of India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, over half from livestock, with methane from enteric fermentation 25–30 times more potent than CO₂, and livestock emissions potentially doubling by 2050, jeopardising India’s 2070 Net Zero target.
• Public Health Risks: Excessive antibiotic use in poultry and dairy drives Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), allowing resistant bacteria to enter humans through food, undermining antibiotic efficacy and fuelling a “silent pandemic.”
• Economic and Trade Barriers: India lacks global-standard traceability systems to verify product origin, pollution levels, and animal welfare, limiting exports and reducing competitiveness in international markets.
• Food Security Concerns: Climate change could reduce crop yields and protein content by 2030, putting 9.1 crore Indians at risk of undernourishment.

Gaps in the Current ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) Framework

• Incomplete Environmental Metrics: ESG metrics emphasise solar energy, EVs, and tree plantation but ignore the food system’s environmental impact.
• Blind Spots in Protein-Linked Sustainability: ESG frameworks currently under-assess critical food-system metrics, including:
  • Protein sourcing practices of companies
  • Antibiotic usage in livestock operations
  • Water footprint of animal-based products
  • Animal welfare standards across supply chains
  • Share of smart/alternative proteins in corporate portfolios
• Impact on Investment: Incomplete ESG disclosures make Indian firms less attractive to global investors compared to competitors with more robust reporting.

Way Forward

• Promotion of Smart Protein: India should promote plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived proteins to reduce emissions, suit dietary culture, create jobs, and enhance export potential.
• Strengthen Policy Support: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) scientific standards should be accelerated for cultivated and plant-based protein, and the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy should be used to boost R&D and manufacturing.
• Animal Welfare in Corporate Practices: The companies should prioritise animal welfare to avoid reputational damage that could hurt global sales.
• Expand ESG Metrics: Indicators such as water use per unit of animal product, livestock waste management, and responsible antibiotic use should be included in the ESG Metrics.
• Technology for Supply-Chain Transparency: Apply blockchain systems to track complex environmental and welfare metrics across supply chains.
• Updation Of BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting): SEBI should add the Protein and Welfare Metrics into the BRSR framework, starting with voluntary reporting and gradually making them mandatory.
• Smart Protein Innovation: Cheaper credit and tax benefits can accelerate R&D and industry growth.

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Conclusion

India’s protein transition is both a warning and an opportunity. With smart protein and improved ESG governance, India can protect public health, cut emissions, strengthen exports, and ensure future food security.

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