ProVeg urges more funding for climate-friendly food, as UK opens doors for protein industry partnerships

ProVeg has heralded the UK government’s commitment of £15 million in investment for the establishment of a new center for alternative proteins at Leeds University as a “significant step forward” in the shift to more climate-friendly food.

“This is a significant step forward by the UK government which will allow the UK to compete in a rapidly growing market for alternative proteins," commented Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg International. "The global market for plant-based foods alone is estimated to treble in value by 2033 to US$35 billion and the UK must position itself to make the most of that growth.

“However, the current level of investment by the UK and other countries pales in comparison to the amount invested in the animal agriculture sector. A Stanford survey found that between 2014 and 2020, public funding for novel technologies was smaller than that for animal products by factors of 1,200 in the EU and 800 in the USA. We need a much greater shift in funding to ensure that climate-friendly food gets anywhere near the levels of funding that intensive livestock farming receives.

“The EU-funded Smart Protein Project has already established that 51% of Europeans are reducing their meat consumption. A separate survey carried out last month discovered that 27% of people who describe themselves as 'omnivores' eat meat less than three times per month. So we really need this type of investment to deliver the food products that current and future generations want to eat

“Aside from this, the promotion of alternative proteins, such as plant-based food and cultivated meat, is vital to help tackle the climate crisis. Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as large scale deforestation and biodiversity loss. Only major food system change can turn the tide on this level of destruction, with the support of funding from governments like the UK.”

Earlier this year, London’s Imperial College launched the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein with around £22 million in funding to design, deliver and commercialise alternative, climate-friendly food. Last year, the German government allocated €38 million in its 2024 budget for the promotion of plant-based, precision-fermented and cell-cultivated proteins.

Denmark, however, has shown the way for other governments to follow with its implementation of a comprehensive Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods to increase the production and consumption of climate-friendly food by providing support in the public sector, industry and research and development fields.