Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

UKRI announces £15 million funding for sustainable protein research

UKRI announces £15 million funding for sustainable protein research
Vegan burgers (Photo: iStock)

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced plans for a new £15 million sustainable protein research hub, the largest single public investment the UK has made in plant-based and cultivated meat to date.

The funding through the Biotechnical and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK, both part of the UKRI, looks to establish and lead an Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) to support research and innovation into more sustainable alternative proteins.


The funding is expected to enable businesses and academic researchers to work on projects including scaling up production and reducing the cost of plant-based foods, cultivated meat and fermentation.

The UKRI said the IKC, which will run for five years between 2024 and 2029, will “ensure the UK capitalises on its cutting-edge research and innovation potential” in these sectors. The IKC model will pay particular attention to commercialising high-quality innovations, while furthering world-leading research.

The nonprofit Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe), which this week called for more public funding in sustainable proteins, welcomed the announcement.

“It’s great to see the UK investing in essential research that will make sustainable options delicious, affordable and accessible – and position the country as a global leader in this burgeoning field,” Dr Stella Child, research and grants manager at the GFI Europe, said.

“This is exactly the kind of investment our recent report called for. To maximise the potential of this groundbreaking new research centre, the government must also step up policy efforts in other areas like regulation to develop a thriving sustainable protein sector.”

Earlier this year, the UKRI, the country’s main research funding agency, has announced a £12 million investment in a sustainable protein research centre led by the University of Bath.

The GFI Europe report has found that the UKRI has invested at least £43 million in sustainable protein R&D since 2012 – two-thirds of which has been since 2022.

More for you

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less
Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

iStock image

Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month with food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea along with chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals, shows industry data released today (29).

According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price deflation was at 0.8 per cent in October, down from deflation of 0.6 per cent in the previous month. This is below the 3-month average rate of -0.6 per cent. Shop price annual growth was at its lowest rate since August 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less