biostudies-literatureVarela-Ortega CHorizon 2020 Framework ProgrammeUniversity College Cork5111-5120https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9546073biostudies-literatureUnknown102(12)<h4>Background</h4>Extensive research shows that replacing animal protein with plant-based protein in the diet would strongly alleviate the environmental impact of the food system. However, much less attention has been given to the socio-economic considerations of dietary transitions. This study analyses the socio-economic performance of innovative legume-based food prototypes, developed in the Protein2Food research project, and conventional animal-based products (chicken meat and dairy milk). We implement a social life cycle assessment (sLCA) to quantify and compare their potential socio-economic impacts along the entire life cycle.<h4>Results</h4>Findings from this analysis show that legume-based prototypes and their respective animal-based counterparts have, overall, a comparable socio-Journal of the science of food and agricultureLife cycle assessment of animal-based foods and plant-based protein-rich alternatives: a socio-economic perspective.PMC9546073635727-2635727‐2Detzel AVarela-Ortega CBlanco-Gutierrez IManners RfalseLife cycle assessment of animal-based foods and plant-based protein-rich alternatives: a socio-economic perspective.<h4>Background</h4>Extensive research shows that replacing animal protein with plant-based protein in the diet would strongly alleviate the environmental impact of the food system. However, much less attention has been given to the socio-economic considerations of dietary transitions. This study analyses the socio-economic performance of innovative legume-based food prototypes, developed in the Protein2Food research project, and conventional animal-based products (chicken meat and dairy milk). We implement a social life cycle assessment (sLCA) to quantify and compare their potential socio-economic impacts along the entire life cycle.<h4>Results</h4>Findings from this analysis show that legume-based prototypes and their respective animal-based counterparts have, overall, a comparable socio-2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-04T09:29:37.043Z2025-04-04T09:29:37.043ZS-EPMC95460733479166310.1002/jsfa.11655