Scientific narratives for the protein transition: Will systemic change be possible?
(2025)
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- Authors
- Supervisors
- Baret, Philippe
- Abstract
- This dissertation investigates the concept of the protein transition which can be defined as the shift from unsustainable animal-based consumption and production patterns toward more sustainable alternative protein sources and production systems. Introduced in the scientific literature in the early 2000s, the concept has since attracted growing interest from policymakers, industry actors, and other stakeholders as a framework for addressing environmental, health, and ethical challenges associated with livestock production and consumption. Yet, despite its widespread use, the meaning(s) of the protein transition remains contested. The thesis pursued three overarching goals: (1) to unpack the meanings and functions of the protein transition in relation to food system sustainability in scientific literature; (2) to examine the disciplinary contributions and perspectives to the protein transition, looking at how these disciplinary perspectives are integrated into a holistic vision of protein transition; and (3) to assess the options and solutions being advanced under the concept of the protein transition, as well as their coherence with the underlying systemic challenges at stake. By addressing these goals, the research seeks to move beyond fragmented disciplinary debates and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the protein transition as both a scientific and a socio-political phenomenon. The research combines systematic literature review, bibliometric and text-mining analysis, and expert interviews to examine the protein transition across multiple dimensions and disciplines. Five complementary papers structure the analysis: a systematic review of the definitions and narratives of the protein transition (The Narrative Paper); a bibliometric analysis mapping protein transition debates in relation to livestock sustainability (The Shadow Paper); a disciplinary analysis of protein transition research communities (The Discipline Paper); a Restatement paper synthesizing various disciplinary insights (The Restatement Paper); and a critical assessment of proposed protein transition solutions (The Paradox Paper). The findings of the PhD indicate that the protein transition is predominantly defined from a consumption-based perspective, emphasizing dietary changes, while issues of livestock sustainability are largely addressed within separate research communities. This separation limits dialogue between the protein transition and livestock sustainability debates. Although the PT represents a multidimensional and systemic challenge, knowledge remains fragmented across scientific disciplines, which often operate within their own epistemological and ontological frameworks. These different frameworks can generate potentially incompatible understandings of the protein transition, influencing both the assessment of interventions (e.g., advising for red meat consumption reduction or implementing nudging strategies) and what is considered valid evidence. As a result, siloed disciplinary approaches foster parallel and often poorly integrated viewpoints that hinder system-wide solutions. Interventions that appear promising are therefore rarely tested against the broader food system, addressing symptoms rather than underlying structural causes and revealing a gap between intervention design and the complexity of real-world dynamics. Finally, the results highlight how power relations shape which narratives dominate, often privileging technology- and innovation-driven solutions over sufficiency-oriented or structural approaches. The dissertation further examines how these competing narratives are embedded within broader meta-narratives, such as the growth-centric paradigm, and how power operates at the intersections of science, policy, and industry. It argues that fragmented knowledge production shapes not only the substance of debates but also the capacity for coordinated action in food system transitions. Building on this, the work advances the idea of transformative science, a vision of research that is both reflexive and politically engaged. It positions science–policy interfaces as key arenas for enabling structural change, underscoring that meaningful transformation requires science to contribute actively to democratic, sustainability-oriented decision-making. By integrating analysis of narratives, disciplinary approaches, and structural dynamics, this research offers a multidimensional understanding of the protein transition. It emphasizes the interplay between scientific knowledge, institutional structures, and power relations in shaping pathways toward sustainable food system transformation. The dissertation further discusses the coexistence and competition of narratives and their link to more meta-narrative such as the growth-centric paradigm as well as the power dynamics at the science-policy-industry interface, and the consequences of fragmented disciplinary perspectives in food system transitions.
- Affiliations
UCLouvain SST/ELI - Earth and Life Institute
Citations
Duluins, O. (2025). Scientific narratives for the protein transition: Will systemic change be possible?