“Our project focuses on sustainable protein transition,” Matser says. “Less food from animal sources and more from vegetables. This is an issue that many people in the rich parts of the world are focusing on, and it should also be highlighted in developing countries to avoid people going through the same cycle as us. History shows that, as prosperity increases, meat consumption also grows. If this also happens in Africa, it will become increasingly difficult for humanity to survive on this planet. We will run out of space for cattle, there will be extreme water shortages and we will see an enormous rise in the emissions of CO₂ and ammonia. The world cannot afford these effects so it is important to make the transition, locally, from food rich in animal protein to food rich in vegetable protein. Not just here, but everywhere in the world.”

How is Matser planning to do that? “We are studying functional fractioning,” she explains. “This is a clever use of crops that allows the population to eat them right after the harvest or use them as a source of protein until the next harvest. That starts with the choice of a target region where we want to begin. I would like to spend the first six months studying the circumstances there. What diet do the people have? What crops do they grow? What are the customs and needs with regard to nutrition? And how is the infrastructure? All of these factors are important, as is the possibility to create a solid project organisation on location together with the local inhabitants. Where possible, this organisation should continue to build on existing networks and platforms. Social acceptance will be just as important as technological contributions in this project.”