The James Hutton Institute will be co-leading a new £38m UK-wide center. The center could soon see alternatives to animal proteins made from plants, fungi, algae, and meat grown in labs that become a nutritious part of our diets and which are also environmentally friendly.
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) has received £15m of funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK to fund the center dedicated to developing acceptable and planet-friendly alternatives to animal proteins. The remainder of the funding has come from the center's three other partners which include the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Imperial College London plus the Hutton.
Over 30 researchers from the four partner institutions and more than 120 NAPIC partners will work closely with industry, regulators, investors, and policymakers to create a vibrant alternative protein innovation ecosystem and produce a clear roadmap for the development of a National Protein Strategy for the UK. Together they will work on four interdisciplinary knowledge pillars: Produce; Process, People and Perform to efficiently and safely translate the groundbreaking new technologies which could unlock the benefits of alternative proteins.
The James Hutton Institute is leading on the PRODUCE pillar of the project. Professor Derek Stewart, Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre and lead on the PRODUCE pillar explains more:
"The food system is responsible for around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions with agriculture and livestock systems in particular underpinning these levels. Reducing these emissions will be difficult, especially given an increasing global population and the impacts of climate change. We need to find more sustainable sources of protein and thankfully there is a huge biodiversity in non-animal sources of protein, and we've barely scratched the surface of this. The PRODUCE pillar will focus on producing tasty, nutritious, safe, and affordable AP foods and feedstocks to safeguard present and future generations, while addressing concerns about ultra-processed foods and assisting a just-transition for producers. It's a privilege to work with this team to lead the PRODUCE pillar".
Bridging the gap between the UK's trailblazing science and innovation in alternative proteins with production power will be key to NAPIC's success. Those behind the project believe it could be a true catalyst to realizing a projected UK growth potential in alternative proteins of £6.8B annually, with 25,000 jobs created across multiple sectors, as predicted by the Environmental Group, Green Alliance in 2023.
The center will also aim to develop the future leaders of what is a rapidly evolving sector experiencing significant consumer demand. Bespoke technical, entrepreneurial, regulatory and policy training will be offered and NAPIC will also promote the exchange of knowledge through what it describes as an unrivalled international network of partners, including the United Nations.
For more information:
The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland
Tel.: +44 (0)344 928 5428
[email protected]
www.hutton.ac.uk