National alternative protein innovation centre launches
The UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK have invested £15 million into the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). The NAPIC is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Leeds, the James Hutton Institute, Imperial College London and the University of Sheffield.
More than 100 UK and international stakeholders, from SMEs to multinationals, and academic partners to third sector are already engaging with the NAPIC. £19.3 million of co-investment and support has already been committed in addition to UKRI’s £15 million. The centre will support research and innovation into various forms of alternative protein. It will also bolster the alternative proteins sector in the UK, convert ideas into reality, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in this rapidly emerging global market.
NAPIC will drive innovations across the entire alternative proteins supply chain, and in various sources of alternative proteins from plants to microbes, and insects to algae.
Animal agriculture is estimated to produce up to a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions, and with the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the demand for protein is expected to rise significantly. Some sources, such as the UN Environment Programme, estimate meat consumption alone could grow up to 50% by 2050. As such, supplementing traditional agriculture with alternative protein sources is critical to meet the increasing demands that come with a rising global population, and to do so sustainably.
Plant-based proteins, such as soy and peas, and lab-grown meats are excellent alternative sources of protein, supporting products that offer a more sustainable and resilient approach. These products also typically have a lower carbon footprint and can be produced with fewer resources.
According to an analysis by Green Alliance, the UK alternative proteins industry could be worth £6.8 billion a year and create around 25,000 jobs by 2035. The UKRI-funded centre will help the UK realise this potential.
Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Director of Research and Innovation for Leeds’ School of Food Science and Nutrition, and Project Leader for NAPIC, said:
“There are many challenges to transitioning towards alternative proteins. Population-level access to, and acceptance of, alternative proteins is currently hindered by a highly complex marketplace, concerns about taste, nutritional equivalence and cost, as well as health and safety concerns, and the fear of diminished livelihoods for farmers.
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre will provide a robust and sustainable platform for open innovation and responsible data exchange and collaboration with partners from industry, regulators, academic partners and policy makers that mitigates the risks associated with this emerging sector, and also addresses the short- and longer-term concerns of consumers and producers.”
Funding for the centre starts in August 2024 and will run for five years.
Find out more here.
