The James Hutton Institute has announced today (28th August 2024) its role in co-leading a new £38m UK-wide centre which could soon see alternatives to animal proteins made from plants, fungi, algae and meat grown in labs.

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 centre dedicated to developing acceptable and planet-friendly alternatives to animal proteins.

The remainder of the funding has come from the centre’s three other partners which include the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Imperial College London plus the Hutton.

Animal agriculture is estimated to produce up to a fifth of planet-warming emissions, and with the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the demand for protein is expected to rise significantly. Some sources, such as the UN Environment Programme, estimate meat consumption alone could grow up to 50 per cent by 2050.

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 be focused 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.” 

“”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”

Prof Derek Stewart, the Advanced Plant Growth Centre

For full details on the project visit The Advanced Plant Growth Centre website.