Meet our Young Investigators: Merel Daas, Wageningen University
Merel is a third-year PhD candidate at the Division of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University & Research. As part of Work Package 7 (WP7) in the GIANT LEAPS project, she integrates insights from various research areas—including nutrition, safety, sustainability, and consumer acceptability—to optimise dietary shifts towards alternative proteins in Europe.
What is the main focus of your research?
In my research, I focus on modelling and evaluating the health and environmental impacts of a dietary transition from animal-based protein foods towards alternative protein foods in the European context.
To date, I have investigated current dietary protein consumption patterns in the European population, and evaluated associated nutritional and environmental impacts (with hopefully a publication soon). Currently, I am working on creating future dietary scenarios that incorporate alternative proteins, aiming to provide actionable insights into healthier and more sustainable food systems.
Where are you based? What do you enjoy about your university? Does it foster your interest in alt proteins? Is there a local community that inspires your work?
I am based at Wageningen University & Research, a global leader in advancing research in the transition to sustainable food systems and alternative protein sources. What I truly appreciate about Wageningen is its vibrant interdisciplinary approach to solving system challenges. Being surrounded by researchers from diverse fields not only inspires my work but also encourages me to step outside my own discipline to seek collaborative solutions. It is this spirit of cooperation and shared passion for tackling sustainability issues that makes Wageningen an incredibly motivating environment.
What sparked your personal interest in the topic of dietary shifts?
My interest in healthy and sustainable diets started early, even before deciding what I wanted to study. This initial curiosity led me to pursue a degree in Human Nutrition and Health. During my studies, I explored various facets of nutrition, but the urgency and scale of the challenges related to unsustainable dietary habits and food systems motivated me to specialize further in this field.
What are your aspirations for the future, and how do you hope your work will make an impact?
Working within a large interdisciplinary project, such as GIANT LEAPS, has underscored the importance of bridging gaps between research fields, but also policy and industry, to tackle complex global challenges. I aspire to continue building these bridges, connecting public health, environmental, social, economic, and other domains to develop holistic and impactful solutions for transforming food systems. Through my work, I hope to contribute a small but meaningful piece to the puzzle, specifically by shedding light on the health implications of sustainable dietary transitions.
