Cricket salads could be meal staple by 2054, Co-op report finds
Consumers are believed to become more health conscious, with more ‘flexitarian’ diets leading to alternative insect proteins becoming part of our daily diets
Cricket salads, lab-grown steaks and azolla burgers may take the place of classic dishes such as Sunday roasts or fish and chips by 2054, a new Co-op report has found.
The supermarket released “never-before-seen” AI images of what these meatimes could look to mark the release of its responsible retailing report, which explores the nation’s changing views on food ethics and sustainability over the past 30 years.
According to Co-op, the images were generated with the help of AI and expert insights from FixOurFood and the University of York to look ahead 30 years to what we will all be eating.
Co-op’s report predicts that the next 30 years will see farmers and producers become “more valued to society”, whilst a rise in urban indoor farming across Britain will see more lab-grown meat and seafood from animal tissues.
Meanwhile, consumers are believed to become more health conscious, with more “flexitarian” diets leading to alternative insect proteins including locusts, grasshoppers and crickets becoming part of our daily diets.
The impact of climate change will also see the likes of avocados and olives being grown in Surrey by 2054, with less reliance on imported vegetables and an increased preference for locally sourced produce. Extensive plant breeding will welcome new varieties, such as the fast-growing freshwater fern azolla used for soups, salads and even burgers.
Whilst food diversity will improve, so will cooking skills, as Co-op’s report forecasts that Brits will have more leisure time to create dishes following the introduction of the four-day work week by 2054.
Bob Doherty, director of FixOurFood and Dean of the School for Business and Society at the University of York, said: “The last 30 years we have seen scientific leaps into more sustainable produce which were unimaginable to most back in 1994. From lab-grown meat to vertical farming, the future of food is set to revolutionise how we eat.
“By 2054, British people will have edible insects on their dinner plate, and we may see the crushing up of crickets quicker than wholegrains.”
He added: “As we navigate the challenges of climate change, we’ll need to embrace these innovations to ensure that we can feed a growing population sustainably.”
