Co-Founder and Director of Mieux Donner
Reading time: 5 min.
Being selected by independent evaluators, often specialising in a particular cause, for its impact among the vast number of existing associations is a major challenge. But when an organisation manages to be recommended for two different causes – in this case, climate change and animal suffering – by several renowned assessors, it becomes a unique case. This is exactly what the Good Food Institute (GFI) has achieved, an organisation that stands out for its innovative approach to combating both climate change and animal suffering.
The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016, whose mission is to promote alternative proteins, particularly those of plant origin, cultivated and derived from fermentation. The GFI works to make these meat alternatives as tasty, affordable and accessible as traditional meat.
The organisation is working on several fronts to change the world food system:
With offices in several regions of the world (Europe, Asia-Pacific, India, Israel, Brazil and Japan), the GFI is positioned as a global player in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable food system.
Industrial livestock farming is one of the main drivers of climate change. The sector generates around 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional meat production uses massive amounts of land and water, while contributing to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.
Alternative proteins offer a solution. By capturing just 11% of the protein market by 2035, they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as decarbonising the entire aviation industry. Plant proteins use land and water much more efficiently. For example, the production of plant proteins requires only a quarter of the world’s agricultural land, while providing almost two-thirds of the world’s proteins.
The meat industry causes the suffering of billions of animals confined to small spaces and subjected to cruel treatment. By reducing the demand for conventional meat and adopting alternatives, we can limit or even eliminate these cruel practices. Cultured meats, which do not require animals to be slaughtered, represent a major step forward in the fight for animal welfare.
Intensive livestock farming is not only a threat to the environment and animals, it also poses risks to human health. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. In addition, overcrowded conditions on farms encourage the spread of zoonotic diseases such as avian flu and H1N1.
Alternative proteins, produced in controlled environments, reduce these risks. By eliminating the need for factory farms, they break the cycle of disease transmission from animals to humans, helping to prevent future pandemics.
Conventional meat production is very resource-intensive. By using land more efficiently, alternative proteins not only help to preserve the environment, but also increase the availability of food resources. By freeing up vast tracts of agricultural land, they can also help to increase biodiversity and improve the distribution of calories, thereby contributing to greater global food security.
And as we saw earlier, the consequences extend to multiple causes.
The GFI is playing a key role in this transition by supporting research, influencing public policy and working with the industry to develop alternative proteins. Their work is making these products as tasty, affordable and available as traditional meat. Thanks to their expertise, alternative proteins are becoming a large-scale solution to the challenges of climate, public health and animal welfare.
By supporting the GFI, you are making a direct contribution to a food system that is more respectful of the environment, animals and future generations.
[1] Cost effective analysis calculations for animal welfare organisations (FarmKind) [Accessed 11/07/2024].
Please note that the figure of 5.3 animals helped per euro is very uncertain and we would not be surprised to see a difference of some magnitude in the actual figure. Full details of the assumptions and figures used in the FarmKinds calculations can be found in their spreadsheet. (We have used a conservative conversion of 1 euro to 1 dollar from their calculations).
[2] The Good Food Institute, Deep Dive (Giving Green)
Giving Green’s best estimate for the effectiveness of GFI is $2.98 per metric tonne of CO2 equivalent in waiting. (We have used a conservative conversion of $2.98 : €3 for our impact calculation).
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