Brits could soon be chowing down on all manner of bugs, fungi and meats grown in labs in a bid to tackle the climate crisis.
The UK is setting out to lead the way on “alternative meats” as part of efforts to combat a rising global population and greater strain on the environment and food production chains. Spearheading the movement is a new multimillion-pound venture launched today (Wednesday, August 28).
A total of £15m has been provided by the UK’s innovation agency, UKRI, for the newly formed National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) in a bid to overturn national eating trends in favour of alternative protein supplies that require less energy to produce. According to the WWF, only 9% of protein currently consumed in the UK comes from non-meat products.
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Thinktank Green Alliance hopes that the industry could be worth £6.8bn a year and create 25,000 jobs by 2035. There is also £23m from other stakeholders being put into the fund to help the research groups collaborating on the project.
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It is hoped the new work can lead to a clearer understanding of what benefits and possible risks are really associated with the consumption of more meat-alternative products.
Food material scientist Professor Anwesha Sarkar, from Leeds University and NAPIC project leader, said: “We want to make alternative protein mainstream, for a really sustainable planet,” adding it is hoped the project can turn the UK into an alternative protein “global superpower”.
While much of the research may look at things like flies and various types of mushrooms, lab-grown meat remains one of the most intriguing alternatives.
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According to food consumption outlet Sentient , “cultivated meat is grown from animal cells, and while it is not identical to the tissues of a living animal, it is made from the same materials and has nearly the same structure. For all intents and purposes, lab-grown meat is indeed actually meat.”
In the UK, cultivated meat is currently approved for use in pet food, while a handful of places around the world have currently given the green light for human consumption.
The UK’s £38m raised for the research is only small compared to the current alternatives industry worldwide, which last year alone raised $1.6bn (£1.2bn), Sky News reports.
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A government spokesperson said: “Everyone should have access to a varied, healthy diet and make their own choices about what they eat.
“This government is committed to supporting a food system that produces sustainable, healthy and affordable food, while ensuring the right outcomes for consumers, farmers and food producers.”