A research centre examining the implementation of alternatives to meat, backed by £38m, will be launched by the University of Leeds.
The virtual research centre will look into lab-grown meat as well as plant and fungus-based meat alternatives to determine the health, sustainability and feasibility of moving away from traditional meat.
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre is supported by over 100 organisations and academics.
Prof Anwesha Sarkar, speaking to the Independent, said the group’s “ambition is to create this massive innovation ecosystem with 350-plus partners so that it can drive the UK to become the global superpower in alternative proteins”.
Though still a recent area in technology, cultivated meat has attracted a lot of interest. The practice involves removing cells from animals that can then be cultured in a lab, removing the need to slaughter livestock.
There has been significant investor interest in lab-grown meat, with funding increasing by 400% from 2021 to 2022, however, regulatory roadblocks have slowed activity more recently.
London-based startup Meatly became the first European cultured meat company to be approved to sell its product by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) last month, albeit in the form of pet food.
Meatly CEO Owen Ensor said the establishment of the centre is a “step forward” for alternative proteins.
However, Ensor questioned if this is the best allocation of funds for the sector given the “dire state” of British finances.
“What the industry does need support with is helping to bridge the gap in consumer education on the impact of traditional meat, alt proteins and cultivated meat,” Ensor said.
Riley Jackson of fellow cultured meat startup Ivy Farms said that “further support is needed to develop the infrastructure and facilities in the country to help early-stage alt-protein companies”.
Jackson added: “We look forward to working with NAPIC and the UKRI in driving further innovation in this sector, and we hope this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to investment and focus on this industry.”