Research project
National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC)
- Start date: 1 September 2024
- End date: 31 August 2029
- Value: £15 million (£197.685 to ITS)
- Partners and collaborators: Imperial College London, James Hutton Institute, University of Sheffield
- Primary investigator: Professor Anwesha Sarkar
- Co-investigators: Professor Nik Lomax, Professor Nicholas Watson, Professor Brent S. Murray, Professor Kieran Tuohy, Professor Alan Mackie, Dr Christine Bosch, Dr. Alan Javier Hernandez Alvarez
- External co-investigators: Dr Gesa Reiss (COI - FBS), Dr Sepideh Khodaparast (COI - EPS), 10 from James Hutton Institute, 11 from Imperial College London, 12 from University of Sheffield, 120 industrial institutions
The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), a cohesive pan-UK centre, will revolutionise the UK’s agri-food sector by harnessing our world-leading science base through a co-created AP strategy across the Discovery→ Innovation→ Commercialisation pipeline to support the transition to a sustainable, high growth, blended protein bio-economy using a consumer-driven approach, thereby changing the economics for farmers and other stakeholders throughout the supply chain.
Built on four interdisciplinary knowledge pillars, PRODUCE, PROCESS,PERFORM and PEOPLE covering the entire value chain of AP, NAPIC will produce a clear roadmap for the development of a National Protein Strategy for the UK. NAPIC will enable us to PRODUCE tasty, nutritious, safe, and affordable AP foods and feed stocks necessary to safeguard present and future generations, while reducing concerns about ultra-processed foods and assisting a just-transition for producers. Our PROCESS Pillar will catalyse bioprocessing at scale, mainstreaming cultivated meat and precision fermentation, and diversify AP sources across the terrestrial and aquatic kingdoms of life, delivering economies of scale. Delivering a just-transition to an AP-rich future, we will ensure APPERFORM, both pre-consumption, and post-consumption, safeguarding public health. Finally, NAPIC is all about PEOPLE, guiding a consumers’ dietary transition, and identifying new business opportunities for farmers, future-proofing the UK’s protein supply against reliance on imports.
Our vision is to make “alternative proteins mainstream for a sustainable planet” and our ambition is to deliver a world-leading innovation and knowledge centre to put the UK at the forefront of the fights for population health equity and against climate change.