Overview

The joint report "Charting India’s Protein Transition" released at the FICCI Symposium in New Delhi on 28 September 2026 projects that India’s average per‑capita protein consumption will more than triple, rising from 9.5 kg in 2025 to 30 kg by 2070. The study highlights profound implications for food security, agricultural production, natural resources and investment.

Protein Demand and Production

  • Pulse‑derived protein is forecast to increase from 3.5 million tonnes in 2025 to 9.3 million tonnes by 2070, making pulses the second‑largest protein source after dairy.
  • India currently imports ≈90 % of processed plant‑protein isolates, indicating a large domestic processing opportunity.
  • The report identifies four priority areas: (1) production improvements, (2) pulse innovation, (3) supply‑side constraints, and (4) producer engagement.

Emissions Outlook

  • Under a business‑as‑usual pathway, annual protein‑related emissions could reach 1.92 GtCO₂e by 2070, nearly eight times the climate‑safe threshold of 0.25 GtCO₂e.
  • Cumulative excess emissions over the period could exceed 44 GtCO₂, equivalent to more than three‑quarters of today’s global annual greenhouse‑gas emissions.
  • India and Southeast Asia together are projected to account for 31 % of global agricultural and fisheries consumption by 2033.

Mitigation Pathways

  • Methane, feed, manure, deforestation, energy and food‑loss & waste measures could lower annual emissions to 0.73 GtCO₂e by 2070 (still 2.9 × the safe threshold).
  • Greater protein diversification could further reduce emissions to 0.50 GtCO₂e.
  • An integrated pathway combining all measures could bring emissions down to 0.30 GtCO₂e, still above the safe level but a substantial improvement.

Supply‑Side Constraints

  • Projected shortfalls: 35.6 % in green fodder, 10.5 % in dry fodder, and 44 % in concentrate feed ingredients.
  • Climate pressures are expected to add volatility to feed availability and production costs.

Producer Landscape

  • Smallholders produce roughly 72 % of India’s milk, while poultry and fisheries rely heavily on contract growers and fragmented producers.
  • The report stresses the need for targeted finance, procurement reform, technical assistance and producer consultation to enable these stakeholders to participate in the transition.

Policy and Investment Implications

  • Rituj Sahu, Director – Protein Transition/Sustainable Food Systems (India), ARE, emphasized that coordinated action across policy, finance, food production and procurement is essential, and that banks and investors must direct capital toward the transition.
  • Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, highlighted the opportunity for industry to innovate, invest and build resilient domestic value chains in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Conclusion

The report concludes that coordinated policy, financial and technical interventions can allow India to meet rising protein demand while markedly reducing emissions, strengthening domestic value chains and supporting producer livelihoods.

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