GFI Alt Protein Pulse

Catch up on our latest blogs and resources, upcoming events, and the top alternative protein stories from the past month

From GFI

The State of the Science on Alternative Proteins: May through August 2023

Alternative proteins offer some of the most game-changing research opportunities around the world, and the last four months have been brimming with exciting advancements in alternative protein science and the larger ecosystem. Five experts from our SciTech team are here to give you all the details you may have missed. Read more.

New analysis: Cultivating alternative proteins from commodity crop sidestreams

Our latest report explores the untapped potential of high-value agricultural sidestreams (aka crop 'leftovers') that are well-positioned for efficient, affordable, and sustainable alternative protein production. Download now.

Watch our recent webinar for a great overview of key findings from GFI’s SciTech team.

Alternative seafood whitepapers

Like terrestrial meat, demand for seafood is growing worldwide, and neither wild-capture fishing nor fish farming can scale to meet growing demand without threatening the health of the ocean and waterways. Plant-based and cultivated seafood can be a critical tool to help meet this demand while protecting and revitalizing ocean ecosystems and mitigating the emissions associated with seafood production. We’re excited to share a new set of white papers that explore the many ways alternative seafood can help fulfill demand while meeting climate and biodiversity goals and detail the actions policymakers, researchers, and ocean advocates can take to advance this nascent industry.

Dive in:

Building climate policy momentum for alternative seafood

New blue foods for biodiversity

Meet the researcher: Pioneering sustainable fat with biomass and precision fermentation

Much of the flavor and mouthfeel of conventional meat comes from fat, making it critical to the wider adoption of alternative proteins. GFI Europe spoke to researchers using biomass and precision fermentation to create this essential ingredient in a more healthy and sustainable way. Read more.

Become an industry partner with the Alt Protein Project

Are you an industry professional who wants to tap into our vibrant community of educators, student leaders, and the upcoming generation of alternative protein professionals? Join our directory of industry partners! Becoming an industry partner with our community offers:

• Access to up-and-coming talent for your company’s talent needs.
• Direct relationships with top-tier research universities.
• The chance to help construct optimal education and training programs to continue meeting your future talent needs.
• The opportunity to mentor early career professionals and cultivate the next generation of the alternative protein workforce.

Learn more and join our directory.

Upcoming events and opportunities

The Business of Alt Protein: Accelerating foodservice and retail expansion through distributor partnerships

Distributors are critical to expanding your company’s food service and retail footprint. Join GFI for a seminar focused on distribution. We’ll review the basics of distribution—what kinds of distributors there are, why you should work with them, how to work effectively with them, and how to reach them. We’ll then have a panel discussion so attendees can hear directly from leading distributors. Save your spot.

The Science of Alt Protein: The science, technology and art of high protein plant-based cheese

Join GFI grantee Dr. Alejandro Marangoni to learn about his novel high-protein plant-based cheese made from waxy starch, plant-protein isolate, and coconut oil. This sustainable alternative made with simple ingredients exhibits melt and stretch properties two to three times greater than those observed for commercial plant-based cheeses. Sign up.

Fish & CHIPS: Collaborative Huddle for Ideation & Problem Solving

Dive into the future of cultivated seafood at Fish & CHIPS, a new event series that provides an opportunity for cultivated seafood scientists and innovators to get together in small groups and talk through the challenges they're facing. If you're working on cultivated seafood and would like to connect with others in the field, please join us on November 28 at 11:30am ET.

Reuters Transform Food 2023

Join GFI at Reuters Transform Food, a conference focused on improving the resiliency of global food and agriculture systems. The event will gather 120 of the world's most influential food decision-makers to tackle the structural barriers impeding transformation at scale and unlock a viable roadmap to a net positive future for all.?Use discount code GFI200 for $200 off any ticket type when you register.?

Plant Based World Expo Europe

Catch GFI Europe senior corporate engagement manager Carlotte Lucas leading a panel on market opportunities for cultivated meat and precision fermentation technologies at the Plant Based World Expo in London Nov. 15–16. The two-day event will bring together more than 5,000 stakeholders from across retail, foodservice sectors, and public sectors to uncover new ideas and strategies for growing the global plant-based market.?Register.

Private Label Manufacturers Association 2023 Annual Private Label Trade Show

Are you an alternative protein startup looking to scale your business? The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) Show in Chicago on Nov. 12-14 is a fantastic opportunity to connect with potential contract manufacturers and retailer partners who can help grow your company to the next level. The show will also explore the latest trends in food products, ingredients, flavors, and packaging within the private label industry.?Register.?

For an additional resource, check out GFI’s database of contract manufacturers, co-packers, pilot plants, and more.?

Find more upcoming conferences, pitch competitions, workshops, and opportunities for good food innovators on our events calendar.

Alt protein headlines

The case for lab-grown meat

Philip Lymbery , global chief executive of Compassion in World Farming, penned a fantastic piece for TIME about the promise of cultivated meat as a tool to help build a more healthy, resilient, and sustainable food system. Check it out.

Meat proteins… in plants? Moolec Science raises $30m to expand molecular farming operation

Moolec Science has raised $30 million to continue funding their novel molecular farming platform which can produce animal proteins from plants helping the alternative protein industry achieve taste parity with conventional meat. Using their unique bioengineering process, Moolec Science can express animal proteins at high levels from plants including yellow peas and soybeans to improve the taste, texture, appearance, and nutrition profile of alt proteins. Read more.

Alt protein revolution in South Korea: Plant-based thrives & cultivated meat receives huge investment

South Korea is becoming fertile ground for both alternative protein innovation and public investment into emerging technologies such as cultivated meat due in large part to growing sustainability and food security concerns in the region.?Learn more.?

Study shows the potential of natural fermentation to make realistic plant-based cheese

Making plant-based cheese that delivers the same sensory experience as animal-based cheese is challenging because plant proteins behave differently than proteins found in milk. While precision fermentation has emerged as a tool to produce real dairy proteins without the animal, a new study shows that natural fermentation can also play a role in turning plant-based ingredients into delicious dairy products. Dig into the research.

Catalonia boosts plant-based production and fermentation-made food with €7M investment

The Catalan government has announced a €7 million (US $7.32M) investment in a research center to bolster alternative protein research and help businesses scale up the production of plant-based meat and fermentation-derived foods. “This landmark announcement is a major step toward turning Catalonia into one of Spain’s leading hubs for sustainable plant-based and fermentation-made foods,” said Alex Holst, senior policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe. Full story.

Flawless fungi: EU and U.S. startups team up to develop tastier meat alternatives

Mycoprotein startup Nosh.bio and Ginkgo Bioworks have teamed up to identify protein-producing fungi strains with superior sensory profiles in pursuit of a single-ingredient whole-cut product that delivers a “super meaty” experience. Dig in.

Outrage + Optimism: Hungry for Alternatives?

GFI founder and president Bruce Friedrich stopped by the Outrage + Optimism podcast to chat with Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at Bezos Earth Fund, about the outsized positive impact that alternative proteins can have not only on tackling the climate crisis, but also our health, animal well-being, and nature restoration.?Listen now.

Global spotlight

GFI India publishes its first-ever State of the Industry Report on smart protein in India

The Good Food Institute India's inaugural State of the Industry report gives a comprehensive overview of the region’s burgeoning smart protein sector that has the potential to offer a total economic opportunity of $4.2 bn by 2030. At a time when India’s agricultural sector stands at a critical juncture of sustaining viable and enduring livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers and providing food and nutritional security to a rapidly growing population, this report showcases how smart protein can be a beacon of hope.?

With over 113 startups across plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated proteins and a network of 100+ supporting companies, the industry has recently entered a crucial stage of market activity. Rapid industry growth notwithstanding, the Indian government’s recognition of smart protein as a high-priority area is the unparalleled highlight of the last couple of years.

• In 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, presented smart protein within India's policy priorities for high-performance biomanufacturing. The DBT instituted a sectoral committee on smart proteins (that GFI India is a part of), through which it will invest further in the smart protein sector.
• In 2022, the Maharashtra government set a target of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and has included smart protein as a pillar to help reach that target.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now granted approvals to a few fermentation-derived companies to enter the market—marking significant progress for the smart protein industry in India.

Dive into the report to discover India's alternative protein journey from its inception and explore how the world's most populous nation can leverage this sector for environmental sustainability, agricultural resilience, and economic growth.

Work at GFI

Policy: Legislative Director

SciTech: Scientific Partnerships Manager

General Interest: General interest application - United States

You can view all job opportunities at GFI here. For more information on the application process, we encourage you to attend one of our bi-weekly hiring information sessions.

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The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals. Click here to support our work.