Follow Innovate UK on the Alternative Protein Global Expert Mission to the USA

UK and USA Alternative Proteins Market

In recent years, the global alternative proteins sector has experienced significant growth, fuelled by increasing consumer awareness of sustainability, health, and animal welfare concerns. Plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products have become more easily accessible, with many major retailers expanding their offerings. The global alternative proteins market continues to grow as demand increases with a valuation of around $17.6 billion USD in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at an average of 12% compound annual growth rate in the coming period, reaching USD 55 billion by 2032.

As a result of this, the UK has seen a surge in start-ups focused on innovative protein sources, such as cultured meat, mycoprotein, plant-based foods and insects. These are areas of priority for Innovate UK, with a number of collaborative R&D projects being supported recently in the Future Food Innovation area, alongside the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), as well as the launch of the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre.

Companies are increasingly focusing on developing alternative protein products that provide the taste and texture of traditional animal-based foods, but also offer additional environmental and health benefits as well as customisation opportunities around functional and fortified foods, personal and stratified nutrition. The strong consumer demand for such products reflects a broader global shift towards more sustainable and diversified food systems, heralding a new era of customised food innovation.

Akin to the UK, in the United States innovation in the alternative proteins sector has also rapidly expanded. This interest reflects North America’s expanding share of the global alternative proteins market, which is estimated to be 38.8%. The US has a long-standing tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation, with a dynamic start-up culture that fosters creativity. The country further boasts a robust ecosystem of research institutions, universities and private companies dedicated to food science and biotechnology, providing a fertile ground for collaborative R&D. The US regulatory environment is supportive of food innovation, with agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) actively engaging with stakeholders to streamline approval processes for novel ingredients and technologies.

Strategic objectives

The GEM will focus on exploring the landscape and potential for collaboration between the UK and the US. By leveraging individual strengths for mutual benefit, stakeholders in the plant-based and alternative proteins ecosystem will be best placed to accelerate innovation, drive market growth, and contribute to the sustainable transformation of the food system on a global scale.

This GEM on alternative proteins is a great opportunity for Innovate UK to explore the research and innovation ecosystem around New York, San Francisco and Sacramento. The visit will help us to understand how we can support UK businesses to expand globally and partner with innovative organisations in the USA on agriculture technologies and food innovations within the industry.

Syed Ahmed – Programme Lead Global Expert Missions at Innovate UK Business Connect

The objectives of the GEM are to:

• Gain an understanding of the alternative protein innovation landscape in both countries, including related challenges and opportunities around functional and fortified foods, stratified and personalised nutrition.
• Understand the alternative protein market dynamics and trends, as well as priorities of the US government and potential synergies with those of Innovate UK.
• Explore the potential for collaboration, development of partnerships and grounds for long-term engagement through collaborative research and development and business innovation programmes.
• Identify potential collaborators or partner organisations also seeking to invest in and support the development of the alternative protein sector.
• Identify specific programmes or initiatives that may offer international collaboration opportunities between the UK and the USA focused on alternative proteins.

Key activities

Innovate UK will be joined by a UK delegation of experts from Rootiful, STARS, Jampa’s, Plant Futures, CPI and the Food Standards Agency.

The GEM will start off in California where the participants will:

• Join a roundtable meeting with US alternative proteins stakeholders from industry, academia and government with a focus on the West Coast market, with innovative companies including MeliBio and Buehler.
• Attend site visits to JUST, MISTA and AgStart.
• Travel to the University of California, Davis to meet with finance experts and accelerators and attend the Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein (iCAMP) summit on alternative protein.

The group will then travel to New York where they will:

• Attend Plant Based World Expo to explore how UK businesses can work in the US.
• Visit the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers.
• Lead a roundtable meeting with US alternative proteins stakeholders from industry, academia, and government with a focus on the East Coast market, with innovative companies including New Harvest, Plant Based Foods Institute, Big Idea Ventures, Clear Current Capital and Helaina.
• Speak with Northwell Health how they are designing tasty highly nutritious plant-based meals at their hospitals.

Follow us

The Innovate UK team is looking forward to expanding international collaborations with the US. Follow us on X.com (Twitter): @IUK_Global and #USAAlternativeProteinsGEM.

Global Insights Webinar

Innovate UK will host a webinar on 4 December 2024 reflecting on the key takeaways from this Alternative Proteins USA GEM, exploring the sustainable food innovation landscape and future opportunities for expanding your business into the USA. Register here for the Global Insights: USA Alternative Proteins webinar.

About Global Expert Missions

GEMs are funded by Innovate UK and designed to build international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions, and people from every corner of the globe. With global challenges requiring international perspectives, the programme aims to support the UK government’s ambition to be the international partner of choice and a global hub for innovation by 2035.