During his visit at Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) on Wednesday 20th October, the minister of Agriculture of New Zealand, David Carter, launched a new programme: PROTEOS. This joint programme of the Riddet Institute of Massey University and Wageningen UR is aimed at solving global protein shortages.
PROTEOS
Wageningen UR and Massey University have been collaborating for many years in the Global Research Alliance, in which New Zealand and the Netherlands are working closely together to lead the Livestock Research Group. The new collaboration, PROTEOS researches how we can produce more food with less negative impact for the environment. Minister David Carter: "This new collaboration, PROTEOS, is a three-pronged approach to the same dilemma of producing more food with less environmental impact. The world faces a growing food crisis, with the global population expected to top nine billion by 2050. The demand for animal protein by then will be twice what we are capable of producing now. Our capacity to meet this demand in a sustainable manner will be a huge challenge. The PROTEOS project's goal is to find substitutes and extenders for animal protein; increase agri-production efficiencies; and finally, extend the range of animal protein products. If these ambitious goals can be achieved, we will be looking at a very different future, when new kinds of protein sources become increasingly important in human nutrition, and new kinds of animal feed support increased production. This important project may make an important contribution to international efforts in meeting food security challenges, as well as bringing our two countries closer together."
Visit delegation New Zealand
Besides the launch of the PROTEOS programme there was also a meeting with Food Valley Business Leaders. Martin Scholten, Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR, gave an update of the activities of the Global Research Alliance. Wouter Hendriks, professor Animal Nutrition at Wageningen University, introduced the PROTEOS programme. He worked for some years at Massey University.