Refine Search Results

Novel foods milestone as new mycoprotein earns first EU approval

The European Commission and member states have now authorised Fermotein as a novel food – meaning it can now be sold across all EU member states.

Meet the researcher: Brewing up new ideas to scale precision fermentation with Josué Heinrich

A 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.

Europe’s plant-based food retail market grows as prices become more competitive, but good taste remains key

Data from six European countries show that the price gap between plant-based foods and their animal-based equivalents narrowed in most categories in 2025, leading to sales volume growth as products began to meet consumer expectations.

Italy’s retail plant-based market reaches €669 million

New analysis from the Good Food Institute Europe shows that in 2025, sales volumes, units sold, and sales value increased across five plant-based product categories. Plant-based meat and milk sales continued to rise, while plant-based cheese maintains double-digit growth.

Spain’s plant-based retail market reaches €546 million as plant-based milk remains a staple in Spanish households

New GFI Europe report reveals that 47.6% of Spanish households now buy plant-based milk, while price remains the main barrier holding back plant-based meat.

Retail sales of plant-based alternatives have risen by 21% over the past two years in France

The nonprofit organisation and think tank the Good Food Institute Europe has published a new analysis of retail sales of five categories of plant-based foods in France between 2023 and 2025, based on Circana data. The report highlights the market’s continued growth, characterised by rising sales volumes and growing consumer interest,

Les ventes au détail d’aliments d’origine végétale ont progressé de 21% en deux ans en France

L'organisation à but non lucratif et groupe de réflexion Good Food Institute Europe publie aujourd'hui une nouvelle analyse des ventes au détail de cinq catégories d'aliments d'origine végétale en France entre 2023 et 2025, sur la base des données de Circana1. Cette étude met en lumière une progression continue du marché, marquée par une hausse du volume des ventes et un intérêt croissant des consommateurs.

What plant-based sales data can tell us about the Netherlands’ protein target

Dutch consumers, retailers and the government want a more plant-based food system – but taste and price are holding back progress.

Wat plantaardige omzetcijfers zeggen over de eiwitdoelstelling van Nederland

Nederlandse consumenten, supermarkten en overheid willen een plantaardiger voedselsysteem – maar smaak en prijs zitten voortgang in de weg

Germany remains Europe’s leading market for plant-based foods with 3.1 % growth in sales value

Germany’s High-Tech Agenda: innovation hub for alternative proteins could support economic growth

An international network linking Nordic researchers seeks to provide collaborative opportunities often missing in alternative protein science.

Yousr Abassi

Yousr leads GFI Europe's policy work in France.

Breaking down the boundaries: Meet the researchers working on a cross-border project to build Nordic alternative protein momentum

An international network linking Nordic researchers seeks to provide collaborative opportunities often missing in alternative protein science.

Tom Davies

Tom works to map the evolution of the global alternative protein research and innovation ecosystem and how competitive Europe is within it.

Viola Hollek

Viola works to map the evolution of the global alternative protein research and innovation ecosystem and how competitive Europe is within it.

Plant-based mince and meatballs 33% cheaper than meat versions at UK’s largest retailer amid rising meat prices

The cost of making plant-based spaghetti bolognese and meatballs is now on average 33% cheaper at the UK's biggest supermarket than making the same dishes with beef, lamb and pork mince.

Alternative proteins: a strategic tool to adapt to climate change in Spain

Droughts, epidemics, floods: climate change is already transforming Spain’s food system. Find out how alternative proteins can serve as a strategic tool to adapt to climate change and strengthen food security in Spain.

Lina Hartwig

Lina engages with journalists and advances protein diversification in Germany.

Research: Swapping processed with plant-based meat boosts fibre across whole diet by up to 7%

The first study of its kind has found that swapping processed meat with popular plant-based options leads to meaningful dietary improvements.

GFI Europe research, reports and resources

Research priorities for alternative proteins in Europe

The history of precision fermentation: How the future of food has been on your plate for decades

Precision fermentation promises to deliver next-generation developments – offering fats and proteins that can bring the taste and texture of meat and dairy to plant-based foods.

‘Burger’ and ‘sausage’ are saved – but EU’s misguided decision bans the word ‘meat’ and 31 everyday terms for plant-based food

‘Burger’ and ‘sausage’ can still be used to describe plant-based meat products – but dozens of other everyday terms are to be banned under unnecessary restrictions that will confuse consumers, hurt the EU economy and jeopardise European resilience.

Priyansha Reddy

Priyansha works with startups and corporates to accelerate alternative protein commercialisation.

Oxford Real Farming Conference: building a broad tent to address the harms of factory farming

Protein diversification: the underappreciated ally in our arsenal against infectious disease, pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance

Continuing to meet the growing demand for meat with industrial farms is a recipe for disaster. Diversifying protein production is crucial to safeguard against new pandemics and antimicrobial resistance.

Research finds alternative proteins could boost EU economy by €111 billion by 2040

Alternative proteins could add €111 billion a year to the EU’s economy by 2040 if treated as a strategic priority, new research shows.

Leila Jabrane

Leila supports GFI’s partnerships with European research funders.

Guest blog: A 6,000km bike journey from Stockholm to Lisbon inspired by food, friendship and life’s fragility

Axel Lundberg writes about undertaking an epic cycle ride across Europe, paying tribute to a close friend while raising money for the Good Food Institute.

EU Biotech Act a ‘missed opportunity’ for food innovation

Nonprofit think tank the Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) has welcomed plans in today’s Biotech Act to expand the advice regulators provide to innovators bringing new foods to market. But it has described plans to exclude Novel Foods from regulatory sandboxes as a 'missed opportunity'.

Meet the 2026 GFI research grantees shaping the future of alternative proteins in Europe

Discover the latest research projects selected for the GFI Research Grant Program, driving alternative protein innovation in Europe.

Meet the researcher: Using precision fermentation to unlock next-generation foods with Maija Greis

A background in food science convinced Dr Maija Greis that precision fermentation was crucial to finding the missing ingredient in developing animal-free foods with the authentic taste and texture of conventional meat and dairy.

The base is strong, now it’s time to grow: how 2025 set the stage for the next phase of Europe’s protein transition

In the world at large and for alternative proteins, 2025 has been a year of turbulence. Beneath the surface, however, the European alternative protein ecosystem has continued to mature.

EU Bioeconomy Strategy proposals will help fermentation innovators bring products to market

The EU’s new Bioeconomy Strategy has outlined plans that will support fermentation innovators in scaling up production and bringing food products to market.

COP30: Europe can’t afford to delay building a sustainable food system

Spain demonstrates the cost of climate inaction – and the urgent need for Europe to invest in protein diversification.

Scale-up series part 5: No offtake, no scale

In part five of our series to help startups in the alternative protein field grow, we explore how creative offtake strategies, like pre-orders, conditional contracts, and public procurement, can break the cycle of stalled investment.

Inès Decoster

Inès manages our digital communication channels, and works to raise the profile of Europe’s protein diversification ecosystem by developing accessible and engaging content for a broad range of stakeholders.

Alternative proteins in Spain: progress, challenges, and opportunities in a growing sector

Our recent report takes an in-depth look at the achievements to date and the challenges ahead for Spain to consolidate its position as the leading hub in southern Europe in the alternative protein sector.