I would really be wonderful if we could see the urgency the world needs applied to this topic. GFI is doing amazing work, but how can we turn this from what appears still to be a niche area, into what it should be: a massive international effort to solve one of the greatest challenges of our time.
As EA’s we’re very aware of the multiple challenges the world faces. Alternative protein is unique in that it can bring huge improvements in at least three areas:
Reduce the suffering of farmed animals.
Reduce the massive impact of the meat industry on climate change.
Enable everyone on earth to have cheap and easy access to a full and healthy diet. (This one is maybe more long-term, but people 100 years from now will see this as normal—we just need to get there faster)
What should EA’s be doing to push for more political support, more funding, more investment? Imagine what the industry could achieve with 1% of the crazy investments going into AI …
Thanks for your comment, and I completely agree with your framing of the opportunity here. Alternative proteins really do sit at the intersection of animal welfare, climate, and global health in a way that’s quite unique.
One of the biggest barriers to impact right now is funding. Public R&D funding for alternative proteins is increasing, which is really encouraging, but it still represents only a small share of overall food and agriculture funding and is far below what’s needed. Shifting that is one of the highest-leverage opportunities, and a key focus for GFI Europe.
Last year, GFI Europe directly influenced more than $55 million in R&D funding for the alternative protein ecosystem (excluding new government commitments that haven’t yet been spent). And globally, every $1 donated to GFI catalyses roughly $25–30 in follow-on public R&D funding. This multiplier effect is one of the reasons many in the EA community see this as a particularly high-impact area.
For EAs looking to help, one of the most impactful routes is supporting early-stage research and field-building, where philanthropic funding can unlock much larger pools of public funding as the field becomes more established and investment is seen as less risky.
Another way to help is by strengthening talent pathways. Building a pipeline of scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers is crucial to scaling the field. Individuals can have a direct impact here, either by pursuing careers in alternative proteins themselves or supporting others to do so. At GFI Europe, for example, we support student-led groups at universities to become hubs for alternative protein research and innovation through our Alt Protein Project, helping to inspire the next generation of leaders shaping the future of food.
Your comparison to AI is really interesting. It shows how quickly a field can scale once it’s treated as a strategic priority. We’re definitely starting to see a shift in the right direction, but accelerating it is the big challenge.
Really appreciate you raising this – it’s exactly the kind of conversation that helps move the field forward.
Thanks Alex,
This is a nice update.
I would really be wonderful if we could see the urgency the world needs applied to this topic. GFI is doing amazing work, but how can we turn this from what appears still to be a niche area, into what it should be: a massive international effort to solve one of the greatest challenges of our time.
As EA’s we’re very aware of the multiple challenges the world faces. Alternative protein is unique in that it can bring huge improvements in at least three areas:
Reduce the suffering of farmed animals.
Reduce the massive impact of the meat industry on climate change.
Enable everyone on earth to have cheap and easy access to a full and healthy diet. (This one is maybe more long-term, but people 100 years from now will see this as normal—we just need to get there faster)
What should EA’s be doing to push for more political support, more funding, more investment? Imagine what the industry could achieve with 1% of the crazy investments going into AI …
Keep up the great work!
Hi Denis,
Thanks for your comment, and I completely agree with your framing of the opportunity here. Alternative proteins really do sit at the intersection of animal welfare, climate, and global health in a way that’s quite unique.
One of the biggest barriers to impact right now is funding. Public R&D funding for alternative proteins is increasing, which is really encouraging, but it still represents only a small share of overall food and agriculture funding and is far below what’s needed. Shifting that is one of the highest-leverage opportunities, and a key focus for GFI Europe.
Last year, GFI Europe directly influenced more than $55 million in R&D funding for the alternative protein ecosystem (excluding new government commitments that haven’t yet been spent). And globally, every $1 donated to GFI catalyses roughly $25–30 in follow-on public R&D funding. This multiplier effect is one of the reasons many in the EA community see this as a particularly high-impact area.
For EAs looking to help, one of the most impactful routes is supporting early-stage research and field-building, where philanthropic funding can unlock much larger pools of public funding as the field becomes more established and investment is seen as less risky.
Another way to help is by strengthening talent pathways. Building a pipeline of scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers is crucial to scaling the field. Individuals can have a direct impact here, either by pursuing careers in alternative proteins themselves or supporting others to do so. At GFI Europe, for example, we support student-led groups at universities to become hubs for alternative protein research and innovation through our Alt Protein Project, helping to inspire the next generation of leaders shaping the future of food.
Your comparison to AI is really interesting. It shows how quickly a field can scale once it’s treated as a strategic priority. We’re definitely starting to see a shift in the right direction, but accelerating it is the big challenge.
Really appreciate you raising this – it’s exactly the kind of conversation that helps move the field forward.
Alex