Horizon Europe’s new calls: What alternative protein researchers need to know
Stella ChildA top-up to the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe programme has opened up new research calls offering ways of pushing food innovation towards the market.
Cultivated meat
Inside China’s biomanufacturing boom – and what it means for Europe’s protein race
Pauline GrimmerA new report has provided the clearest evidence yet that China is using its well-honed industrial muscle to scale alternative proteins – and should serve as a wake-up call for European governments.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets out priorities to keep pace with food innovation
Conrad AstleyThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has highlighted a need to sustain scientific expertise to keep pace with emerging innovations such as cultivated meat and precision fermentation.
Research strategy backs fermentation scale-up but taste and price hurdles remain
The European Commission’s latest strategy for food research includes positive references to diversifying protein supply and scaling up fermentation capacity, but fails to commit to funding the alternative protein research needed to achieve these aims.
Investment in Europe’s alternative protein companies grows – but sector can no longer rely on venture capital alone
Helene GrosshansAn analysis by GFI shows that fermentation companies led the pack in raising new capital in the first half of 2026. However, the picture is mixed and the number of deals has halved – private investment is now concentrated on fewer companies. Mixed financing models, in which private capital and public investment work together, are therefore gaining relevance.
Meet the researcher: Brewing up new ideas to scale precision fermentation with Josué Heinrich
Conrad AstleyA team at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands is asking whether the brewing industry could provide clues for how alternative proteins can scale up production.
Breaking down the boundaries: Meet the researchers working on a cross-border project to build Nordic alternative protein momentum
Conrad AstleyAn international network linking Nordic researchers seeks to provide collaborative opportunities often missing in alternative protein science.
Research finds alternative proteins could boost EU economy by €111 billion by 2040
Elena WaldenAlternative proteins could add €111 billion a year to the EU’s economy by 2040 if treated as a strategic priority, new research shows.
Report: European alternative protein research has tripled since 2020
David Hunt Stella ChildNew analysis has revealed the rapid growth of Europe’s alternative protein research, with the number of studies published and public funding levels almost tripling over the last five years.
First master’s programme marks major step forward for the alternative protein field
Ismaël BawahThe launch of the world’s first master’s programme dedicated to alternative proteins marks another significant step in the development of protein diversification as an academic field.