How the New US Administration Will Impact Food Systems Transformation – vegconomist

Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech™ Invest, an advisor to a food innovation ET, and a consultant to C-Suite of multinational companies. She speaks internationally on the intersection of investing, sustainability, and food systems transformation and is also the host of the podcast, Upside & Impact: Investing for Change.
This article, co-written by the fractional associate director of coms & research at VegTech™ Invest, Gwendolyn Brown, explores how the new US administration may influence food systems transformation, addressing bipartisan issues like food insecurity, climate change, and the role of food innovation in national security and global competition.
Of late, I have been getting this question a lot: “How will the Trump Administration impact US and global food policy and advancement?” I discussed this in a recent episode of my podcast, The Plantbased Business Hour and at a recent Bridge2Food webinar.
The challenges in transforming our food systems are bipartisan and deeply rooted in systemic issues, from climate change to food insecurity. Regardless of who is in office, these challenges—and the opportunities they create—remain, and both parties have a stake in the outcomes.
Let’s dive in.
Food insecurity: A Republican (and Democratic) issue
Food and water are the ultimate power players in the future of geopolitics. As I’ve discussed often over the years of The Plantbased Business Hour, future conflicts are likely to center on these critical resources. This makes food innovation not just a sustainability issue but a matter of strategic importance. Indeed, it is an issue of critical national security.
Increasingly, as global food insecurity increases, food innovation to create a more sustainable, prolific and efficient food system has become a priority. The United States, like many other nations, is prioritizing food independence and technological advancement, recognizing that controlling food and water equates to controlling power. No one wants to be left behind in the global race for food innovation and competitive advantage, especially when the stakes are so high.
“No one wants to be left behind in the global race for food innovation and competitive advantage”
In H2 2024, The Department of Defense, perhaps considered more of a Republican interest, allocated 35% of its R&D funding to initiatives like alternative proteins, sustainable oils, and egg replacements. Companies like The Better Meat Co., Perfect Day, Liberation Labs, and Every are leveraging this support to develop resilient food supply chains and advance the sector. This is one example of how the Trump Administration may continue down this path of food innovation for national security interests.
Remember that while food insecurity in the United States may never be a large-scale issue, food insecurity in other nations destabilizes geopolitics. This is ultimately bad for the US and something the Department of Defense would want to protect against. It only reinforces the need for food innovation and investment from the right.

Climate change: A Democratic (and Republican) issue
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the food system contributes 30% of the World’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GhGE), with 60% of that attributable to animal agriculture (thus, 18% of GhGE total). Further, 32% of the world’s methane, one of the more potent gasses, comes from animal agriculture.
The good news is that, per the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), diversified proteins can be 3x-40x more impactful at reducing GhGE than novel energy, transportation and building materials (AKA other green technologies). This is because elevating the food system is less costly than advancing other green technologies.
This is important because as pressure increases for companies to disclose the emissions along their supply chains, having a lesser environmental footprint becomes a financial priority to avoid fines, public outrage and supply chain issues. Food innovation, per the above, is a cheap and fast option for reducing climate impact and thus, reducing financial risk. Reducing corporate financial risk, as I see in my work with VegTech™ Invest on Wall Street, is an example of how the seemingly democratic topic of climate change is also a Republican concern.
The meat lobby and a race for food supremacy
Despite the growing importance of developing a more efficient, prolific and less destructive food system, we can’t ignore the influence of the meat lobby. Its power is immense, shaping food policy in ways that often stifles innovation. Politicians on both sides are reluctant to challenge this industry, making it clear that meaningful change will require more than political will—it will take sustained advocacy, increased consumer awareness about the woes of the current food system and increased pressure to disclose emissions, leaving companies open to financial risk, along supply chains.
Further, it is important to note that, while American politics can impact the world, the US isn’t the only company advancing food innovation. Countries like Singapore, China, the UAE, Denmark, Israel and the Netherlands are making significant strides in food and water security. The US knows it must maintain leadership in this space, not only for its own independence but also to retain its position of global influence. This competition is an excellent driver of moving food innovation forward.

Moving forward
So, will this election dramatically shift food systems transformation? Probably not. Indeed, it may even push it forward. Advocacy, investment, and government focus are driving innovation and change, even if it feels slow. This is a long-term game, and we must stay the course, doubling down in our investments, communications and advocacy.
As the co-founder of VegTech™ Invest, I’ve seen firsthand how investing in diversified protein innovation is driving change in the food industry deep in the supply chain and at scale. Publicly traded VegTech™ Investment companies like Ingredion, Givaudan, Novonesis and Corbion are all developing technologies to further diversify supply chains through diversified proteins…with budgets much larger than any small start-up. Their ability to move the food innovation needle at scale isn’t just about sustainability; it’s about creating financially resilient businesses that are better equipped to navigate the future. That is both a Democratic and Republican concern.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, or a consumer, there are opportunities to make a difference. Support alternative proteins, push for diversified supply chains, and advocate for sustainable food systems. More than anything, as a sector we have been poor at combatting the meat industry’s misinformation campaigns and this needs to change. Every action matters in this collective effort to create a better, more resilient future for food.
The work continues, regardless of who is in office. Onwards.
Listen to the full audio podcast episode here.
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