The UK government has launched a £38m National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) to advance the development of cultured meat, insect-based proteins, and proteins made by fermentation.
NAPIC is supported by a £15m investment from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK.
Over 100 stakeholders from the UK and around the world are actively involved with NAPIC. These include small and medium-sized enterprises, multinational corporations, academic institutions, and third-sector partners.
According to the UKRI, the collaborators have collectively pledged £23m in co-investment and support for NAPIC.
The innovation centre is a collaborative initiative involving researchers from the University of Leeds, The James Hutton Institute, Imperial College London, and The University of Sheffield.
The centre will spearhead research and innovation to advance the alternative proteins sector in the UK. It will help transform ideas into solutions, reinforcing the UK’s position in the growing global market.
In addition, NAPIC will cover the full alternative protein supply chain. It will drive innovation across a range of protein sources, including plant-based proteins, lab-grown meats, and protein-rich algae.
BBSRC executive chair Anne Ferguson-Smith said: “This investment positions NAPIC at the forefront of the global ambition to produce the next generation of alternative protein products, services and technologies.
“The science and innovation supported by NAPIC will bring together businesses, charities, academic researchers and wider stakeholders to cover the breadth of the alternative proteins industry in the UK and globally, from plant-based protein to new food products created in laboratories.”
The centre will foster collaboration to tackle a range of research and innovation challenges.
UKRI said that it will also support in the advancement of the alternative proteins landscape in the UK. It will aid fundamental discovery research and pre-competitive opportunities for proof-of-concept and commercially oriented activities.
The UK government plans to expand and attract more investment to develop new alternative proteins. Funding for NAPIC started this month and will last for five years.
