The Good Food Institute (GFI) is now accepting proposals for its alternative protein research grants program. The grants support early to mid-stage research proposals addressing urgent scientific and technological challenges relating to alternative proteins.
$3.4MM in funding has been allocated for awards across three high-priority scientific and technological topics:
- Upcycled plant proteins — Improving the functionality of known food industry sidestreams using emerging processing methods/technology with a calculated sidestream volume, limited economic assessment, and end-product demonstration.
- Next-gen fermentation downstream processing — Sustainable and low-cost approaches for downstream food protein isolation from precision fermentation biomanufacturing.
- Hydrolysates for cultivated meat — Optimizing raw material processing and characterization to enable lower-cost and higher-performing hydrolysate ingredients for cultivated meat media.
All proposals must be applicable to meat alternatives and should not exclusively focus on dairy or egg alternatives. Applicants from all sectors worldwide, including academia, government, industry, and nonprofits, are welcomed; women and minorities are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Up to $250,000 is available per project, with up to an additional $50,000 for projects that partner with researchers or industry stakeholders not previously engaged in alternative protein research. Projects will have a duration of up to 24 months, and should correspond to a technology readiness level (TRL) of 1-6.
“Opportunities to feed the world”
GFI reports indicate that investor interest in alternative proteins remains strong, with major meat, dairy, and seafood producers increasingly involved in the industry. Governments are also increasingly investing in alternative proteins and implementing policies that benefit the industry.
“Protecting our environment, feeding the world, and revitalizing economies require a healthy, sustainable, and just food system,” says GFI. “A strong open-access research environment and talent pipeline are essential to fostering good food innovation. As a nonprofit, GFI is uniquely positioned to empower high-quality research that will build the scientific foundation of the alternative protein industries. Our philanthropy-driven research program answers fundamental questions that can spin off entire industries, inspiring additional research and creating new opportunities to feed the world.”
