A project to develop lab-grown meat and insect products will receive £15million taxpayers’ money as ministers seek ‘alternative proteins’ for Britain’s meals of the future.
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) is being set up in the hope of finding net zero alternatives to the likes of steak and chicken.
Scientists will research insects, cultured meats – produced in a lab using animal cells – and even edible algae, hoping to find tasty, affordable and healthy proteins which help to reduce emissions as the global population continues to rise.
The centre will receive the funding from the UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and Innovate UK.
A project to develop lab-grown meat and insect products will receive £15million taxpayers’ money as ministers seek ‘alternative proteins’ for Britain’s meals of the future (stock image)
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) is being set up in the hope of finding net zero alternatives to the likes of steak and chicken (stock image)
Dr Rob Hancock, of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at the James Hutton Institute, said: ‘We import over £15billion worth of protein products…
‘On top of that, the UK imports £3billion of animal food. We need to shift to a system where we’re able to produce more of those protein products within the UK.’
Currently available protein alternatives, such as soy milk and quorn mince, only make up a small percentage of our daily protein intake.
But those behind the project believe it could act as a ‘catalyst’ to the UK’s growth potential in alternative proteins, generating £6.8billion annually and creating 25,000 jobs.
