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.
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.
New analysis shows that sales of plant-based foods in six key European countries grew by 5.5% to €5.4 billion last year.
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.
A new centre based at Imperial College London aims to revolutionise the development of alternative proteins.
As the appetite for plant-based food grows across Europe, these products present new opportunities for farmers to produce the raw ingredients they need.
