This morning saw the UK’s announcement of the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (Napic), spearheaded by the University of Leeds, with a total investment of £38 million to explore innovations in plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived foods.
Professor Anwesha Sarkar, project leader for NAPIC and director of research and innovation at the University of Leeds’ School of Food Science and Nutrition, comments: “A phased transition towards low-emission alternative proteins which have a reduced reliance on animal agriculture is imperative to deliver sustainability and protein equity for one and all.
“NAPIC will provide a robust and sustainable platform for open innovation and responsible data exchange and collaboration with partners from industry, regulators, academic partners and policymakers that mitigates the risks associated with this emerging sector, and also addresses the short- and longer-term concerns of consumers and producers.”
Pioneers in the UK scene
Meatly and Ivy Farm are both pioneers in the UK alternative protein scene. This June, Meatly received regulatory clearance to produce and sell cultivated meat for pet food, making it the first company in the country to receive such authorisation. And Ivy Farm, which positions itself as “leading the UK’s cultivated meat revolution”, is currently preparing for commercialisation.
The London company signed a manufacturing agreement this May with Finland’s Synbio Powerlabs to produce its cultivated meat products in large fermenters, with Synbio stating at the time that cultivated meat is set to be produced on an unprecedented scale in Finland.
A step forward globally as well as for the UK
Owen Ensor, founding CEO of Meatly, comments: “Today’s announcement of the establishment of a new National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), is a step forward for the alt protein sector both globally and in the UK. That said, we as a country are increasingly aware of the dire state of our finances, and questions will undoubtedly be asked whether this money could be better spent elsewhere within the sector.
“As the recipients of the UK’s first cultivated meat approval from the FSA, we saw a spectacular response from the public and from across the business community for a product consumers can get behind, and that can help drive sustainability.
“What the industry does need support with is helping to bridge the gap in consumer education on the impact of traditional meat, alt proteins and cultivated meat. With increased public understanding of the impact of animal agriculture, the alt protein sector will become naturally more attractive to investment which is currently one of the crucial hurdles that businesses in this industry are struggling to cope with.
“However, if this new innovation centre can work closely with leading companies and help uncover new and novel ways to lower costs or increase output from alt proteins, then it will be worth every penny!”
Alt proteins hold the key to economic growth
Riley Jackson, Marketing and Partnerships at Ivy Farm Technologies, states: “The new NAPIC is admirable and important, and it’s great to see further support for alt proteins from UKRI. The UK has some of the brightest minds within biotech and alt proteins, and we hope this latest move is the first of many when it comes to investment and support for startups developing new alt-proteins such as cultivated meat.
“For example, we believe further support is needed to develop the infrastructure and facilities in the country to help early-stage alt-protein companies, of which there are many in the UK, to prove scale-up, enable cost-down and to successfully bridge the valley of the death.
“Alt proteins hold the key to driving new economic growth, and will play an incredibly important role in helping the nation’s food system be more secure and reach net zero. We look forward to working with NAPIC and the UKRI in driving further innovation in this sector, and we hope this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to investment and focus on this industry.”
More information on the centre can be found at https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-32/news/article/5638/helping-alternative-proteins-go-mainstream-for-a-sustainable-planet
