A consultation paper from Systemiq, in collaboration with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, predicts that China's investment in alternative proteins and biomanufacturing could lead to a significant shift in global agricultural trade by 2040. By 2030, efficiency gains in Chinese agriculture could reduce domestic soybean import demand by 25%, impacting major soy-producing nations like the US, Brazil, and Argentina.

The report outlines a three-decade roadmap, with China potentially becoming a net exporter of poultry, dairy, eggs, and aquatic products by 2040. Alternative proteins are projected to account for 35-55% of China's total animal protein consumption by 2050. The paper highlights China's state-aligned capital investment in fermentation infrastructure and enabling policy frameworks as key drivers of this potential transformation, urging global alternative protein producers to prepare for increased competition and changing market dynamics.