**6. Conclusion**

*Grain and Seed Proteins Functionality*

1. Crop source diversification • Protein and EAA contents/ Bioavailability (PDCAAS/ DIAAS) evaluation

2. Health and functional food

3. Product improvement through processing for functionality

• Functionality, Physicochemical properties, meat and diary substitutes (analogs), composite foods strategies and EAA bio-availability

• Multi-omics platforms for genetic networks and trait association analysis, plant breeding strategies for crop variety development for specific protein food

*from associated journals within PubMed and associated libraries.*

• Nutraceuticals, functional foods, bioactive peptides

development

4. Crop genetics

products

protein markets from grain crop sources [94].

ever-increasing global population will continue despite the enormous knowledge been generated in the last decade (**Table 4**). The data on the knowledge base confirms the assertions that opportunities exist to overcome technology obstacles and nutrition and safety challenges in further developing the alternative plant-based

The health products from plant-based proteins are the key selling points for the emerging consumer shift, because it is where significant growth in research and innovations is happening (**Table 4**). In this case, the discovery of bioactive peptides is a critical research area in the dynamics of peptide sources, sequences, structure, networks, and functionality in relation to specific health issues or even emergencies like the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic [95]. A call for bioactive peptides in PubMed for COVID generated 723 reference listings in January 2021. Secondly, the standardization of protein bio-availability is also an active area of knowledge generation that falls under the seed protein quality testing for diversification of protein sources. Under methods of production, the evaluation of functionality has become a space for multiplied research activities as the industry continues to innovate formulations. Composite EAA strategies continues to generate new nutraceuticals, which is exposing new knowledge gaps for the standardization of protocols for protein bio-availability measurements (PDCAAS in the US and PER in Europe) to DIAAS for global regulatory compliance with bio-availability measurements [96]. Thirdly, industry acceptance thrives on organoleptic acceptance, texture and taste of everincreasing formulations of animal protein plant analogs, thus standardizing sensory evaluation techniques requires continuing research efforts as products are formulated. Lastly, the field of genetics and breeding of plant protein crops is a space

**Research themes 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020**

*References from calls on PubMed and associated libraries with various research themes and call terms including "plant-based seed proteins". Calls were restricted to each year of 2010 to 2020. Other references were accessed* 

24 36 38 43 53 67

508 762 1120 1582 2107 2903

1883 2284 2495 2484 2708 1893

1188 1494 1630 1650 1665 1252

**74**

**Table 4.**

The combination of various factors that compels research and innovations in the field of plant-based dietary proteins include the realities of proven nutritional and health benefits and its benefit in promoting ecologically sustainable food production systems. Research efforts in this field have generated a body of knowledge that requires to be updated and consolidated on a steady basis given the fast pace of research activities and volume of scientific publications. This review provides a modest update on the place of seeds (grains) in the development of plant-based protein foods. The review focused on PubMed library and other literature resources to probe the subjects of crop sources of dietary proteins, the state of functional and health benefits from seed-based dietary proteins, functionality manipulations to achieve animal protein analogs, and the state of crop genetics in the improvement of grain-based dietary proteins. The review illuminates the enormity of information and the fast pace of knowledge generation in three key research themes which in turn creates new knowledge gaps that draws from the other research themes. These key knowledge areas are: (1) Continuous generation of health-related functional foods and nutraceuticals from grain-based proteins. The development of bioactive peptides for specific health issues at specific personal physiological conditions will continue to be an active research area with potentials for advancing nutrigenomics sciences in the near future. (2) Plant protein quality research in terms of bioavailability and functionality of the ever-increasing fortification strategies. The pace of identification and formulation of plant protein foods creates knowledge gaps that demands research attention for the harmonization of regulatory policies in the various global jurisdictions for promoting the seed protein innovation markets. (3) At the base of the value chain of plant-based proteins is the genetics and breeding of targeted dietary protein and nutritional traits. The future will see the application of advancing omics tools, databases, and networks to the breeding of new varieties in record time for the emerging plant-based protein food systems.

*Grain and Seed Proteins Functionality*
