Imperial hosts scientific kick-off for research centre driving advances in alternative proteins.
As the world moves towards a sustainable future, innovative solutions will be needed to ensure that people across the world can be fed adequately and nutritiously with minimal impact on biodiversity, the climate and the wider natural environment.
Imperial's Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein convenes biotech and sustainability experts to share groundbreaking research in the fight against food insecurity and climate change.
Over 350 leading voices from across research and the food industry came together at a special scientific kick-off event to share insights and look ahead to the future of food.
"Imperial's Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein brings together world-class research and cutting-edge industry expertise to innovate across disciplines and shape the future of food." Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London
Panels discussed the technologies needed for foods of the future, the role of fermentation, cultivated meat and plant-based protein.
The Centre, spanning across seven Imperial academic departments, will advance research into precision fermentation, cultivated meat, bioprocessing and automation, nutrition, and AI and machine learning.
The Bezos Earth Fund provided the funding as part of a $100 million commitment to developing sustainable protein alternatives and expanding consumer choice, and an overall $1 billion commitment to food transformation. It is one of multiple Earth Fund Centres working with other institutions and industry partners to develop and commercialise new alternative protein products to give consumers more choice for meat and dairy products.
Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Director of the Bezos Centre said: "We want to facilitate an alternative protein revolution by making our food system sustainable, healthy, productive and reliable."
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: "Food security is a huge global challenge that demands an urgent global response. Imperial's Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein brings together world-class research and cutting-edge industry expertise to innovate across disciplines and shape the future of food.
"At Imperial, we are home to people who think differently about the world's toughest problems. By integrating disciplines, forging cross-sector partnerships, and embracing new research models, we are advancing a convergence science approach that drives innovation and transforms how we tackle these challenges."
Speaking at the event, Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), said: "Addressing the environmental impact of our food systems is critical. By bringing together experts across disciplines, we will develop innovative, sustainable solutions that address food insecurity and climate change, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations."
The Centre's hub will be based at Imperial, with three spokes in the UK and three abroad, with more than 100 international partners spanning cutting-edge research and innovation to commercialisation of new products.
The UK spokes are grouped under members of the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub at UCL and Aberystwyth University, the Food Centre at Reading University, and the Growing Kent & Medway consortium involving the National Institute of Agricultural Botany and the Universities of Kent and Greenwich.
International spokes are hosted by the Technical University of Denmark (Biosustain), Tufts University (Centre for Cellular Agriculture), and the National University of Singapore.
Imperial's Bezos Centre is part of a global network dedicated to advancing sustainable protein research, alongside centres at the National University of Singapore and North Carolina State University.
Image credits: James Tye
