Co-op has released its predictions on how mealtimes could look in 2054, with cricket salads, lab-grown steaks and azolla burgers expected to top menus in place of classic dishes.
The retailer tapped AI to create the images as it released its “responsible retailing report,” which explores the nation’s changing views on food ethics and sustainability over the past 30 years.
Experts from FixOurFood and the University of York predict that the next 30 years will see farmers and producers become more valued in society, while a rise in urban indoor farming across Britain will see more lab-grown meat and seafood, cultivated from animal tissues to produce steaks, burgers, tuna and lobster, to become mainstream.
They explained this would mean a drastic change to many of the traditional meals currently eaten in the UK, such as the Sunday roast.
The experts added that consumers were set to become more health conscious, with more flexitarian-based diets leading to alternative insect proteins including locusts, grasshoppers and crickets becoming part of our daily diets, as snacks or the protein element of a meal.
Climate change will reportedly result in 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.
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Additionally, extensive plant breeding will introduce new varieties, not known widely currently, including freshwater fern azolla used for soups, salads and burgers.
Supporting Fairtrade is set to become even more vital, as smallholder farming communities across the globe are disproportionally more impacted by climate change.
Traditional preserving methods will come to the fore to help Brits reduce food waste and consume vegetables beyond their traditional seasons.
FixOurFood director and dean of the School for Business and Society at the University of York Bob Doherty 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.”
He continued: “By 2054, British people will have edible insects on their dinner plate, and we may see the crushing up of crickets quicker than wholegrains.
“As climate change continues to impact our planet, we’ll also see a shift towards locally grown produce, with avocados grown in Surrey becoming a reality.
“We may even see the introduction of 3D-printed food. 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.”
The insight comes as the convenience giant publishes its latest responsible retailing report, revealing 72% of consumers have become increasingly more concerned about ethical and sustainable food than in recent years.
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