Meet the Alt Protein Project’s latest cohort
Students add flavor to their university ecosystems with alt proteins
As our global student-led movement, the Alt Protein Project (APP) is turning universities around the world into engines for alternative protein community, awareness, education, research, and innovation. With the program entering its fifth year, we are thrilled to welcome 21 new chapters into our community of passionate student leaders representing eleven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Spain, the UK, India, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States.
The vibrant range of university ecosystems matches this diversity of countries, each bringing unique disciplinary strengths such as gastronomy, agriculture, and biotechnology. Additionally, these institutions vary in their degree of existing alternative protein activity. Some students join the movement already immersed in faculty-led research efforts, while others are stepping up to be the very first alternative protein champions on campus. We’re thrilled to see what all of these student groups will build in service of our collective mission.
Community is the heart of the Alt Protein Project
With the addition of our newest cohort, the Alt Protein Project is now made up of students from six continents, 21 countries, and 70 universities. The 600+ active members in our community are rooted in different time zones, countries, and cultures, but their passion for leading the alternative protein revolution brings them together to create one powerful global community.
Just like all of our work advancing the alternative protein sector, the Alt Protein Project is only possible because of generous gifts from donors around the world. Thanks to our donor community, we’re creating a world where alternative proteins are no longer alternative—one student at a time.
Our new APP chapters by region
In celebration of our expanding community, we’ve compiled some quick facts about what makes each of our 21 new groups a unique addition to the APP.
APAC
We are incredibly excited to welcome two new university chapters from the Asia Pacific region to the Alt Protein Project this year. Both Nanyang Polytechnic and Seoul National University join our global community with existing strong industry partnerships and alternative protein research.
The NYP Alt Protein Project
Nanyang Polytechnic, based in Singapore, is already a cultivated seafood research powerhouse. In partnership with Umami Meats, NYP researchers are developing several fish cell lines using their plant-based growth serum instead of fetal bovine serum. The NYP APP is excited to support these research projects and industry partnerships, and build upon them, by bringing more stakeholders into the alternative protein space and developing a strong nucleus of student support on campus.
The SNU Alt Protein Project
Seoul National University (SNU), the first university to join the APP from the Republic of Korea, accelerates alternative protein research through its food science and biotechnology department. SNU is a hub for alternative proteins in the Republic of Korea, given its significant role in the establishment of the Korean Society of Cellular Agriculture and research leadership in cultivated meat. The SNU APP aims to propel existing alternative protein research and start their own through SNU’s extensive student-research programs.
Europe
Four incredible, new European chapters are joining the Alt Protein Project this year, each with unique strengths to bring to the table. Aston University, Basque Culinary Centre, University of Exeter, and Technical University of Munich exemplify the interdisciplinary nature of alternative proteins, with expertise in industry and innovation, engineering, gastronomy, and more.
The Aston Alt Protein Project
Located in the industrial hub of Birmingham, England, Aston University joins the Alt Protein Project with a flourishing alternative protein community and strong foundation in alternative protein research. Aston APP student leaders founded the AgriCell Society in 2023 as an independent student organization focused on cellular agriculture, and will expand their efforts to reach more students and faculty researchers this year as an official chapter of the APP! In addition to their community-building strengths, the Aston APP propels a diverse range of existing research, from consumer eating behavior to bioreactor flow dynamics.
The Basque Culinary Centre Alt Protein Project
The Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastián, Spain places gastronomy at the core of its academic mission. The student leaders of the Basque Culinary Center APP are capitalizing on their university’s unique strength in food culture to advance alternative proteins. At a university that values food innovation, nutrition, and sustainability, the Basque Culinary Center APP puts alternative proteins at the center.
The Exeter Alt Protein Project
Located in Exeter, England, the University of Exeter is already a strong player in alternative protein research. The Exeter Alt Protein Project is thrilled to maximize their university’s expertise in biochemical engineering, plant-based proteins, and mycoprotein research, establishing the University of Exeter as a hub for alternative protein research, education, and community. But they won’t stop there–Exeter APP is eager to leverage their proximity to London’s “Golden Triangle” to spread alternative protein innovation to the surrounding communities.
The TUM Alt Protein Project
The Technical University of Munich (TUM), located in Munich, Germany, is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to the natural science and engineering disciplines. TUM APP will be building upon existing campus initiatives, such as the alternative protein hackathon co-hosted by GFI and TUM’s Food/Agro/Biotech Venture Lab. By leveraging their expertise in fermentation, bioeconomy, cellular agriculture, and data science, along with the university’s research and industry partnerships, TUM APP is well-positioned to catapult alternative protein awareness and innovation on campus and throughout Munich.
India
Our Smart Protein Project (SPP) chapters (as alternative protein is commonly referred to in India) will enter this year with dedicated leadership at each of their universities. While these groups were previously organized at the city level, the growing smart protein ecosystem in India has empowered our student leaders to shift their focus towards building university-level infrastructure .
Cross-university collaboration will still play an integral role in their initiatives, but what were the Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai Smart Protein Projects have now become the ICT-Mumbai, IIT-Bombay, Ashoka University, University of Delhi, and IIT-Madras Smart Protein Projects. In addition to these organizational changes, we also have one brilliant new university in the region joining our community this year.
The NIFTEM Smart Protein Project
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), located in Kundli, India, is a government university under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The NIFTEM Smart Protein Project leverages the university’s expertise in food production, food science, technology, and management to drive smart protein innovation. NIFTEM SPP is eager to collaborate with the nearby Delhi SPP to promote smart protein awareness across Northern India.
North America
Eight impressive North American universities join our community this year, with seven from the United States and one from Canada. Many of these universities are already deeply involved in alternative protein research, and all of them bring unique research and education strengths to the Alt Protein Project—from agricultural sciences to biotechnology to sustainability.
The Alt Protein Project at NC State
North Carolina State University is a public land-grant university based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Alongside our existing APP chapters at Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill, the NC State APP brings the alternative protein student movement to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP). The NC State APP will collaborate closely with their university’s newly-funded Bezos Center for Sustainable Proteins, supporting the center’s priority areas: research and development, workforce development, and capacity-building.
The App State Alt Protein Project
Located in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University is a public university with strong programs in biology, nutrition, and fermentation sciences. The App State APP aspires to optimize their university’s strong departments and existing initiatives, such as their Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics, and Sustainable Development Teaching and Research Farm, to educate and excite their peers and faculty about alternative proteins.
The Berkeley Alt Protein Project
The University of California, Berkeley campus holds strong connections with neighboring Silicon Valley’s deep tech innovation and research capabilities. The Berkeley APP is excited to rejoin the community this year to combine academia-industry connections with UC Berkeley’s internationally renowned programs in business, science, and engineering and build up alternative protein research, education, and innovation across campus.
The BU Alt Protein Project
Nested in a hub of biotechnology and surrounded by the passionate students of Boston’s many universities, Boston University (BU) is a leader in scientific and engineering research and innovation. The BU APP team collaborated with the Tufts APP on their inaugural Food 4 Thought conference in Boston earlier this year and is eager to bring new opportunities to their own campus. Given BU’s strong programs in science and engineering and the student body’s passion for sustainability, the BU APP knows the campus is primed for building tangible education and research programs in alternative proteins.
The CSU Alt Protein Project
Colorado State University (CSU) is a public land-grant research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. CSU is well-positioned to be a leader within the alternative protein ecosystem, given its strong programs in agricultural and food sciences, fermentation, and tissue engineering, and its proximity to several start-ups in Northern Colorado. The CSU APP is determined to harness these university strengths and further propel CSU as a hub for alternative protein education and research.
The UMass Amherst Alt Protein Project
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is a public land grant research university, home to numerous alternative protein opportunities, from sustainable campus dining programs to plant-based meat marbling research. With roots in Dr. David Julian McClements’ world-renowned food science lab, the UMass Amherst APP recognizes that their university is primed to house a vibrant, interdisciplinary community working to transform our food system. The UMass Amherst APP is eager to bring alternative protein education, research, and innovation to every corner of the campus.
The University of Toronto Alt Protein Project
The University of Toronto is an alternative protein research leader, located in one of Canada’s major biotechnology hubs. With exciting projects on cultivated meat and media underway on campus, the University of Toronto APP aims to amplify their institutional impact by raising awareness of alternative proteins as a career pathway among students. By joining the APP community, the University of Toronto APP is eager to spearhead new events, education, and research initiatives in the alternative protein field.
The Vermont Alt Protein Project
Based in Burlington, Vermont, the University of Vermont (UVM) is a public, land grant university known for its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. The Vermont APP strives to honor these values by inviting farmers, industry stakeholders, and consumers to the table to engage with their alternative protein initiatives on campus. While building a deeper base of community support, the Vermont APP continues to conduct cultivated meat research through the Engineered Biomaterials Research Laboratory on campus.
Latin America
After welcoming our first two Latin American chapters to the Alt Protein Project last year, we are thrilled to add six more to the 2024 cohort! The Federal University of Paraná, the Federal University of Santa Catarina, São Paulo State University, and the University of São Paulo join Brazil’s growing alternative protein presence, while the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the National University of San Martín mark the Alt Protein Project’s first chapters from Chile and Argentina, respectively.
The UC Chile Alt Protein Project
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is based in Chile’s largest city and capital, Santiago. As the first APP chapter in the country, the UC Chile APP is already breaking new ground for the Chilean alternative protein ecosystem. The university’s involvement in the Technological Center for Food Innovation and its proximity to Chile’s biotechnology hub makes it a prime center for alternative protein awareness, research, and education.
The UFPR Alt Protein Project
Universidade Federal do Paraná, based in the Brazilian state of Paraná, is home to many alternative protein research and educational opportunities. The UFPR APP is excited to work alongside two labs on campus that are conducting cultivated meat research: LABEA and ZOOCEL. The UFPR APP also seeks to build more alternative protein education opportunities for their passionate student body, alongside the existing cellular agriculture introductory course. With so many alternative protein opportunities already available at UFPR, the UFPR APP is perfectly positioned to make UFPR a major hub for alternative proteins.
The UFSC Alt Protein Project
The Federal University of Santa Catarina is a public university located in Florianópolis, the capital of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The UFSC APP is deeply-embedded within existing alternative protein research efforts, with many of the student leaders working with Dr. Silvani Verruck on plant scaffolding for cultivated meat. Given existing strategic partnerships with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the JBS Biotech Innovation Center, the chapter also works to bridge the gap between industry and academia.
The UNESP Alt Protein Project
Spanning 31 institutes and 24 campuses, São Paulo State University (UNESP) is located across the state of São Paulo. Like many of our new Brazilian chapters, the UNESP APP joins our community with a deep foundation in alternative protein research. The UNESP APP supports research topics across all three pillars of alternative proteins: 3D-printed scaffolding for cultivated meat, the characterization of unconventional plants for food and leather analogues, and biomass fermentation. In addition to their research experience, the UNESP APP brings community-building expertise from their previous founding of Brazil Protalt, a group devoted to connecting alternative protein researchers across Brazil.
The UNSAM Alt Protein Project
The National University of San Martin (UNSAM), based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the Alt Protein Project’s first chapter in Argentina! The UNSAM APP enters the Alt Protein Project with eagerness to focus their university’s industry strengths on alternative protein innovation. UNSAM’s renowned programs in biotechnology and food engineering, along with the campus’ proximity to companies like Nestlé and La Serenísima, shape the UNSAM APP’s goals to strengthen academic and industry connections in the alternative protein field.
The USP Alt Protein Project
The University of São Paulo (USP), internationally renowned for its research, is Brazil’s largest public university. The USP APP team forms around their shared passion for our collective mission and their research in Dr. Fabiana Fernandes Bressan’s lab, focused on induced pluripotent stem cell applications for cultivated meat and seafood. In parallel with their research goals, the USP APP is eager to raise awareness of alternative proteins on campus as a key solution to building a more sustainable food system.
To meet all 70 APP chapters, check out our Alt Protein Project groups directory.
Page
The Alt Protein Project
Students play a pivotal role in building the alternative protein ecosystem. Explore how you can start a student group at your university to accelerate the global transition to the future…
Page
The alt protein student resource hub
Use this repository of helpful tools, templates, tips, and tricks to turn your university into an engine for alternative protein innovation.