United Kingdom

Meet the researcher: Chewing the fat about healthier plant-based foods with Andrea Araiza Calahorra

NAPIC is the latest in an exciting string of UK alternative protein research centres – here’s a whistle-stop tour of the exciting new projects

The UK is fast becoming home to an expanding network of research centres dedicated to advancing plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation-made foods.

Report: More than a quarter of all European alternative protein research was published last year

A first-of-its-kind analysis has revealed the rapid growth of European alternative protein research – with more than a quarter of all studies published last year amid record funding.  

Plant-based meat and milk are now mainstream choices for British consumers

There’s no doubt it’s been a tough few years for the UK’s plant-based sector – in common with other parts of the food and drink industry. But after a rollercoaster of sudden growth followed by struggling sales, there are now signs of stabilisation. 

Plant-based goes mainstream as European retail sales grow 

New analysis shows that sales of plant-based foods in six key European countries grew by 5.5% to €5.4 billion last year.

UK creates cultivated meat regulatory sandbox to boost innovation

UK Food Standards Agency to introduce initial regulated product reforms next year

UK government invests £15 million in new National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) to commercialise alternative proteins

European investment figures point to an evolving alternative protein sector

Government-funded study highlights collaboration opportunities for farmers and cultivated meat companies

The government-funded report by the UK’s Royal Agricultural University, follows a two-year study in which researchers partnered with nine UK farms to see what cultivated meat could mean for their businesses.