Effect of The Substitution of Animal Protein by Soya-Based Fermented Product on Human Gut Microbiome

There is a growing understanding of the functioning and interconnectedness of microbiomes in the food system which offers great potential for enabling the development of new solutions contributing to achieving important food and nutrition goals including those requested by FOOD 2030. Of relevance in this regard is the provision of sustainable and healthy protein sources. Because of the obvious environmental and climate concerns associated with the production of animal-derived protein, a transition is needed to healthier and more environment-friendly diets, including a moderate-level consumption of red and processed meat and greater emphasis on plant-based foods. As well as impact of meat production on the climate, it is well established that eating a diet rich in red meat promotes the growth of gut microbiome members that drive or exacerbate inflammation. Plant protein does not have these associations, and in fact it is often accompanied by fibre ingestion, which favours growth of health-promoting gut microbes. Replacing meat with plant protein offers the prospect of improving consumer health by improving the gut microbiome. The EU funded project MICROBIOMES4SOY will assess the effect of replacing animal protein with soya-derived protein on the human gut microbiome and whether this replacement can reduce the risk of inflammation-related diseases by gut microbiome modulation. This knowledge will provide a baseline for establishing new dietary pathways making use of soya protein and support dietary transition for EU citizens.