Competitive Research Grant Program

Overview:
GFI's Competitive Research Grant program provides catalytic seed funding to accelerate alternative protein research and development (R&D) and unlock climate benefits. The program funds open-access research that is urgent and essential to exist in the public domain.

Focus Areas:

• Plant-based meat: Development of whole-cut plant proteins, texture improvements, protein sheets, connective tissue engineering
• Cultivated meat: Hybrid scaffolds, cell lines, differentiation media, 3D fiber scaffolds, nutrient sensing, scaleup methodologies
• Fermentation-derived proteins: Development of fermentation technologies for alternative proteins
• Alternative seafood: Cell line development, low-cost differentiation media, 3D printing whole-cut fish

Geographic Scope:
Global; recent awards spanning eight countries across four continents

Funding History:

• Since 2019, GFI has funded over $13 million worth of open-access research
• Inclusive of 70 discrete research projects
• 2021 round: nearly $5 million awarded to 22 research projects (13 cultivated meat, 2 fermentation, 7 plant-based)

Eligibility:

• Academic institutions
• Research organizations
• Private research facilities
• Researchers from various fields (approximately 20% of grantees have not previously worked on alt protein research)

What They Fund:

• Open-access research with real-world applications
• Projects addressing technological challenges in alternative protein development
• Research producing publicly accessible results
• Projects advancing sensory characteristics, nutritional profiles, and scaleup capabilities

What They Don't Fund:

• Proprietary research (kept confidential or benefiting single companies)
• Consumer or market research
• Research not directly applicable to alternative meat, egg, and dairy end products

Key Objectives:

• Generate whole cuts of meat and seafood
• De-risk additional investment by demonstrating scientific community interest
• Enable researchers to validate hypotheses and develop proofs of concept
• Address key industry questions and build foundation of global alternative protein field
• Accelerate pace of alt protein science

Contact/More Information:
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Background:
GFI fills a critical funding gap, as very little public sector funding has been dedicated to alternative protein R&D to date. The program aims to support the transition to a sustainable, just, and secure food system while addressing climate change imperatives.