Leading alternative protein centers unite to accelerate innovation and sustainability

The National Alternative Protein Centre (NAPIC), CARMA (Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub), Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London, and the Microbial Food Hub have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement underscores the critical role of collaboration in revolutionizing the alternative protein sector and promoting the production of sustainable, healthy, and affordable food solutions.

The partnership aims to strengthen research, innovation, and skill development while addressing the challenges facing the alternative protein industry. This includes fostering public acceptance of alternative proteins and creating scalable solutions to integrate into global food systems.

The collaboration builds on the unique strengths of each center, combining expertise across plant-based, fermentation, and cellular agriculture technologies.

Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Project Leader of NAPIC and Co-Director of PERFORM Pillar, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the MoU. “This MoU is a symbol of our strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration across various focus areas of alternative protein. We are delighted to collaborate with CARMA, the Bezos Centre, and the Microbial Hub to bring scalable, affordable, nutritious, and tasty alternative protein to market.”

The MoU follows NAPIC’s November launch, where Sarkar emphasized the center’s commitment to fostering innovation and data exchange that balances consumer and producer needs. The vision, according to Sarkar, is to create a robust platform that minimizes risks while addressing sustainability and health challenges.

Professor Karen Polizzi, Vice-Director of the Bezos Centre and Co-Lead of NAPIC, reiterated this mission, stating, “Our goal is to make alternative proteins mainstream for a sustainable planet. Together, we aim to establish the UK as a global leader in the sector, driving progress in health equity and climate change.”

CARMA, an EPSRC Sustainable Manufacturing Hub led by the University of Bath, has received a £12 million investment to drive the development of a net-zero cellular agriculture industry. The hub focuses on integrating cellular agriculture into current food systems to ensure sustainability in food manufacturing.

Professor Marianne Ellis, Director of CARMA, emphasized the collective strength of the four centers: “Having four centers working together to cover research, innovation, and technology transfer across the entire alternative protein value chain puts the UK in an enviable position globally. Our collaboration formalizes the intent to harness resources and expertise to maximize impact and achieve a just transition to sustainable food systems.”

The Microbial Food Hub, a £14 million initiative led by Imperial College London and funded by UK Research and Innovation, focuses on cutting-edge fermentation technologies to create sustainable and scalable microbial foods. The center addresses critical challenges in health, sustainability, and food security while accelerating the transition to innovative food systems.

The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, also at Imperial College London, leverages advanced engineering biology to address global sustainability challenges. With a European reach and collaborations with Bezos Centres in the USA and Singapore, the center aims to reimagine food systems for greater equity and resilience.

Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Director of the Bezos Centre and the Microbial Food Hub, expressed the importance of collaborative efforts: “The problem we are trying to solve is too big and too important to address alone. Cross-center collaborations like this ensure that the sum is greater than its parts.”

The MoU represents a shared mission to lead a just transition to sustainable food systems, where alternative proteins play a central role. The combined efforts of these centers will accelerate the development of nutritious, environmentally sustainable food solutions that meet the demands of a growing population while mitigating climate change.

With a focus on innovation, education, and public engagement, the partnership sets the stage for transformative change in how food is produced and consumed globally. As Ellis summarized, “This collaboration goes beyond resources and capacity—it is about creating a sustainable future through collective action.”

The partnership marks a pivotal step in the evolution of alternative proteins. By pooling resources, expertise, and innovative technologies, the centers aim to create a lasting impact on global food systems, advancing health, sustainability, and equity in the process. The collaboration promises not only to benefit the UK but also to set an example for international cooperation in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

(Main picture shows Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Project Leader of NAPIC and Co-Director of PERFORM Pillar, NAPIC)