Research Grants Tracker

Research Grants Tracker

Funder: The Good Food Institute (GFI)

Overview:
GFI's Research Grants Tracker is a public global database compiling information about non-dilutive alternative protein research funding from governments, nonprofits, and other sources. It serves as both a static database and an analytical tool for identifying trends and gaps in the alternative protein research funding landscape.

Purpose:

Map the global alternative protein research funding landscape

Identify funding gaps and opportunities

Track trends in government and nonprofit support for alt protein R&D

Answer questions about funding distribution by region, funder type, and focus area

Scope:

Focuses on non-dilutive grants (funding that doesn't require giving up equity or repayment)

Includes technical research grants with aims such as improvements in sensory characteristics

Covers grants to build pilot facilities enabling technology scaleup

Research must be directly applicable to alternative meat, egg, and dairy end products

Does not include: Consumer research or market research

Data Tracked:

Amount of each grant

Geographic location

Funder type

Alternative protein pillar (plant-based, cultivated, fermentation)

Recipient institution/researcher

Open-access vs. proprietary designation

Key Findings from Tracker Data:

Total funding (cumulative since 2005): ~$112 million in non-dilutive, publicly disclosed grants

- $98.3M for plant-based
- $12M for cultivated meat
- $1M for fermentation-derived

Open-access research: $50.6M (45% of total)

Government funding: 44% of all alternative protein research is funded by governments

Government open-access funding: 39% of government grant dollars ($28.2M) produce publicly accessible results

Geographic Leaders in Alt Protein Research:
1. Canada - Leading in plant-protein ingredient processing
2. European Union - Funding consortia and cross-member research
3. United States - Largest funder of cultivated meat and dairy research
4. Finland - Only country supporting fermentation-derived protein research
5. Also significant: Netherlands, Germany, Japan

Key Insights:

Alt protein R&D funding is woefully inadequate compared to renewable energy (50:1 ratio)

Open-access research funding is limited, especially for cultivated meat and fermentation

Geographic regions are positioning themselves as research hubs

Government funding momentum increased in 2020

What They Don't Fund:
N/A - This is a tracking database, not a granting program

Access:
Publicly available database accessible for filtering and analysis