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Summary: The continued increase in the global population comes with an increase in the demand for nutritious food. In particular, there is a concurrent increase in the demand for protein‐rich foods as protein is needed for human growth and development. Animal proteins have in the past has been used both in food processing and in the diets due to the exceptional functional properties that range from gelation, emulsification to foaming and water‐holding capacity among others. However, the use of proteins from animal sources has come under heavy criticism due to the impact of animal husbandry on the climate that includes global warming due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the most affected countries when it comes to global warming are mainly in sub‐Saharan Africa where climate changes have resulted either in prolonged seasons of drought, or flooding and consequently agriculture is severely disrupted. In order to continue feeding the growing population, there has been the use and adoption of alternative proteins such as those of plant origin and the adoption of plant‐based foods in the human diet. These proteins are often viewed to be more sustainable compared to the animal counterparts. Therefore, this review looks at the landscape of plant‐based foods in sub‐Saharan Africa. Additionally, the review looks at the challenges and opportunities that face the plant‐based foods adoption in the sub‐Saharan market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Proteins of animal origin have been used in various food formulations as they have been shown to possess excellent techno‐functional properties such as gel formation, emulsification, foam ability and stability, among others. However, the production of proteins from animal sources does come at an environmental cost due to the greenhouse effect that is attributable to the rearing of animals. To mitigate against the environmental impact of the production of protein from animal origin, research has focused on alternative proteins such as those of plant, insect or mycoprotein origin. However, there are still several issues as well as mapping of alternative proteins in terms of their nutritional profile, sensorial attributes that include taste and texture as well and the challenges that exist in mimicking proteins of animal origin that need to be addressed which would broaden the window of application of alternative proteins. Therefore, this review explores some of the alternative protein sources that have been characterised in terms of their techno‐functional characteristics and underpins the challenges such as allergenicity that exist in the use of alternative. Furthermore, this work aims to evaluate consumer perception and acceptance of alternative proteins which is pivotal in their success in food production and process as well as ensuring the safety of these proteins. As such, this work will contribute towards the existing knowledge on the possible applications of these proteins as sustainable, cheaper solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This thought document initiates a series of commissioned articles, which will appear in this Journal during 2024 and marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the UK. Climate changes have been seen to have major effects on the disruption of food supply systems. Such changes have had implications on food sustainability, food security and the nutritional composition of foods. In response to these disruptions, food researchers and the food industry have evaluated potential research activities to alleviate risks associated with food insecurity, and focussed on waste utilisation and the use of recovered products for the well‐being of consumers. This viewpoint article focusses on a selection of recently published articles from the International Journal of Food Science and Technology and aligned journals to show the relevance of such research to today's food industry. It is by examining the recent focus of researchers in specific areas of food science and technology, that it is possible to apply these published findings to the modern food industry and help reduce the impact of what may be considered a resource hungry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Proteins from animal sources have for many centuries been used as the conventional food proteins in the food industry to produce a variety of food products. This is mainly attributed to their functional properties that range from foaming ability and stability to emulsification and gelation. However, animal husbandry has a greater impact on the environment compared to crop production. Thus, research on the potential use of plant‐based proteins, which could be more sustainable, cheaper and environmentally friendly has continued to be the focus of many academics and the food industry. Even though studies have been carried out to investigate the functional properties of plant‐based protein sources, there is still a need to understand the challenges that exist in the extraction and the functional characteristics of proteins from plant sources, which could be used as a more feasible exchange for animal‐based proteins. Therefore, this review aims to contribute to the existing knowledge on the extraction, characterisation and functional properties of plant‐based proteins. To this end, relevant literature was searched on several databases such as EBSCO HOST and Science Direct. Google Scholar was also used as a complementary search engine. Research that has addressed the extraction and functional characterisation of proteins from plant sources was critically evaluated and the findings are discussed herein. Additionally, the pinch points that exist in the use of plant‐based proteins as alternatives to animal proteins in food processing are highlighted in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Proteins play an important role in the human diet. While animal proteins have traditionally been a dietary staple due to their techno‐functional properties, factors such as cost, availability and sustainability concerns have driven the search for alternative protein sources. In this study, the techno‐functional properties of lupine proteins were studied. Protein isolates were shown to exhibit superior properties, with α‐La outperforming WPI and LPI in foaming and gelation properties. The combination of WPI and LPI displayed greater stability to pH changes, which is an important factor for the structural integrity of food products, contributing to quality, customer acceptance and shelf‐life. The findings of this study can contribute to existing knowledge on the functional properties of proteins from plant sources such as lupine, which can therefore help to enhance its usage and alleviate the overdependence on soy as an alternative protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]