UKEIA is proud to be a partner member of The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), a £38m virtual centre dedicated to developing acceptable and planet-friendly alternatives to animal proteins, which launched earlier this summer.
Alternative proteins (AP) are derived from sources other than animals, and include terrestrial and aquatic plants such as cereals, legumes, tubers and nuts; fungus such as mushrooms; algae (such as seaweed); proteins derived via biomass or precision fermentation; cultured (or lab-grown) meat and of course, the key element for UKEIA - insects.
Headed up by the University of Leeds, and co-led by the James Hutton Institute, the University of Sheffield, and Imperial College London, NAPIC will be funded to the tune of £15m by UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK over the next five years – it is expected that match provided by industry will create a total investment of £38m.
As a partner, UKEIA will collaborate with 30 researchers and more than 120 other NAPIC partners to produce a clear roadmap for the development of a National Protein Strategy for the UK, as well as creating a vibrant alternative protein innovation ecosystem.
Dr Nick Rousseau, Managing Director of UKEIA, said: “This pan-UK innovation hub is designed to secure a continuous supply of safe, tasty, affordable, and healthy alternative proteins, which also support Net Zero goals and futureproof the UK’s food and animal feed security. Given that decisions to fund individual projects under NAPIC will be heavily influenced by evidence that they meet strategic needs within the sector, UKEIA’s work to bring the sector together and build consensus regarding industry priorities is very timely.
“UKEIA’s members are incredibly well-placed to bridge the gap between the UK’s trailblazing science and innovation researchers in alternative proteins and ‘on the ground’ production power represented by our members. For many years we have struggled as a sector to secure the investment in research and development needed for its growth, as evidenced in our White Paper.”
This 2023 UKEIA analysis established that InnovateUK spent just over £10m on the sector, with 90% on Black Soldier Fly farming technology development by specific companies and a further £2.4m from other research councils.
Nick continued: “I believe the centre will revolutionise the agri-food sector by harnessing world-leading science to create a strategy for alternative proteins, taking them from the discovery and innovation phase, right through to commercialisation. In fact, NAPIC recognises many of the issues that we have previously raised: that insect proteins are currently hindered by a highly complex marketplace, that there are worries about taste, nutritional equivalence and cost, as well as health and safety concerns for consumers and the fear of diminished livelihoods for farmers.
“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 policy makers that mitigates the risks associated with this emerging sector, and also addresses the short- and longer-term concerns of consumers and producers.”
It’s believed that NAPIC could represent be a true catalyst in realising a projected UK growth potential in alternative proteins of £6.8B annually, with 25,000 jobs created across multiple sectors.
The centre also aims 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.
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