'UK at risk of falling behind in meat alternatives'

Britain is at risk of falling behind in innovating and selling meat substitutes, stated a think tank recently, citing lack of coherent strategy by the government.

According to the Social Market Foundation, the UK government lacks a coherent approach to policies on alternative protein, implying that British production capacity in this segment is likely to lag against other advanced countries.

Pointing out that the UK's alternative protein policy is underdeveloped and underfunded, SMF stated that other countries have proper plans as well as adequate allocated funding.

While China has recently adopted a five-year plan to support cultivated meat, Denmark and Netherlands are spending hundreds of millions of Euros on research and development.

The SMF calculated that vegetable and plant-based alternatives were equivalent to 4 percent of total meat sales last year, worth around £1.5 billion.

Last year British alternative protein businesses attracted more than £150 million of capital investment.

Sources from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told ELN the government acknowledges the role of alternative protein sources and this will be explored as part of its upcoming Government Food Strategy white paper.

Linus Pardoe, an SMF Research Associate, said: “Sustainable proteins will be a big part of British diets over the coming decade and this is a real opportunity for Britain’s leading food industry, entrepreneurs and scientists to come together to make alternatives affordable, tasty and healthy.

“At the moment, the government is not doing enough to light the fires of innovation and drive a consumer-led transition to greener diets.

“Current inertia in Whitehall risks squandering opportunities for British businesses, offshoring the benefits of sustainable proteins to countries like China, Denmark and the Netherlands.”