NAPIC Partner Engagement Workshop Report

This report provides an overview of the National Alternative Proteins Innovation Centre (NAPIC)’s inaugural Partner Engagement Workshop, held in Leeds on 29th November, 2024. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from across the alternative protein sector to explore challenges, opportunities, and collaborative pathways for innovation. The report begins with an introduction to NAPIC, outlining its vision to make “alternative proteins mainstream for a sustainable planet.” NAPIC’s mission is to ensure a continued supply of safe, tasty, affordable, and functional proteins while supporting Net Zero goals and future-proofing UK food security. Achieving a phased transition towards low-emission alternative proteins, with reduced reliance on animal agriculture, is imperative to meet these objectives. Grounded in four interdisciplinary knowledge pillars—PRODUCE, PROCESS, PERFORM, and PEOPLE—spanning the entire alternative protein value chain, NAPIC aim to enable the safe and effective adoption of transformative technologies, unlocking the full benefits of alternative proteins. The core focus of the report is on the workshop discussions, which were structured around six Innovation Challenges identified through NAPIC’s co-creation process: Unlocking Nature’s Potential Protein Discovery Structuring for Functional and Nutritional Benefits Enabling Sustainable Bioprocessing at Scale New Metrics and Standards for Product Quality and Environment Acceptability and Accessibility Workshop participants—representing academia, industry, policy, and investment sectors—engaged in facilitated discussions to define these challenges, assess their needs, and explore collaborative solutions on key areas – what this innovation challenge means to their sector, building a national knowledge base, fostering innovation, and upskilling the workforce to give a holistic approach in driving the mainstream adoption of alternative proteins. By capturing these discussions, this report provides a foundation for understanding expectations, possibilities, and the transformative potential of NAPIC in shaping the future of the alternative protein sector.