The Alt Protein Project welcomes 15 new student groups

The Ahmadu Bello University Alt Protein Project

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, located in northern Nigeria, is already home to institutes primed for alternative protein research, such as the Institute for Agricultural Research and the Biotechnology Center, which specializes in plant tissue culture and molecular genetics. The ABU APP founders join our community with backgrounds in student organizing via their work with Effective Altruism and Planted’s Eat For Impact campaign. Additionally, ABU is located near Kano and Kaduna, Nigerian hot spots for agro-processing and manufacturing, respectively. Drawing on these regional strengths and an entrepreneurial student community, the ABU APP is well positioned to advance alternative proteins across northern Nigeria.

The MAU Yola Alt Protein Project

Located in Northeastern Nigeria, Modibbo Adama University, Yola (MAU Yola) is a federal technology university devoted to advancing scientific research through alternative protein-adjacent programs in food science, plant science, and biotechnology. The university’s existing research on regional crops such as cowpea and bambaranuts provides fertile ground for alternative protein research. Driven by a commitment to sustainability and with strong backgrounds in food science, the MAU Yola APP aims to cultivate the next generation of alternative protein champions.

The Helsinki Alt Protein Project

The University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and largest university. The university has prolific food sensory and material science programs, alongside their Viikki food design factory: a center devoted to sustainable solutions for food system transformation. While much government investment and alternative protein research has already come out of Finland, the Helsinki APP seeks to catalyze more interdisciplinary collaboration on their campus and expand educational opportunities for students entering the field.

The Manchester Alt Protein Project

The University of Manchester is one of the UK’s largest institutions and consistently ranks among the world’s leading universities for sustainability. The Manchester APP will join a campus of existing innovative food research initiatives, such as their Biocatalysis and Protein Engineering Centre for Sustainable Synthesis and the Sustainable Consumption Institute. The Manchester APP is also set up for key industry connections through ADM’s new food innovation center on campus and university spin-outs like Cytotrait and Bright Biotech.

The GBU Smart Protein Project

Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) was established to accelerate biotechnology research and prepare the next generation of scientific innovators. Through partnerships with the University of Edinburgh, the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM), and the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), GBU is deeply connected to India’s biotechnology ecosystem. The GBU Smart Protein Project will leverage these relationships to strengthen collaboration, investment, and policy development for alternative proteins across Gujarat and beyond.

The Sathyabama Smart Protein Project

The Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is already home to alternative protein research across all three pillars (plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived proteins). For example, researchers within the university’s National Facility for Coastal and Marine Research are studying protein engineering applications and bioprinting for cultivated meat applications. With strong programs in biotechnology, food science, and environmental science, the Sathyabama SPP is eager to build an alternative protein ecosystem that is even stronger and more connected.

The UADE Alt Protein Project

The Argentine University of Enterprise (Universidad Argentina de la Empresa) is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina– a hub for Argentinian food technology. UADE hosts strong programs in food science, chemistry, and biotechnology, as well as UADE Labs, a university initiative devoted to driving scientific innovation in fields like agriculture and biosciences. The university’s food engineering program, the only South American program to be certified by the Institute of Food Technologists, will also provide a solid foundation for the UADE APP to build alternative protein education and research on campus.

The UNAHUR Alt Protein Project

The National University of Hurlingham (UNAHUR) joins the Alt Protein Project’s growing cohort in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The UNAHUR APP is excited to capitalize on their university’s existing sustainable and food technology-focused infrastructure, including the Pilot Food Plant, the Biofactory, and the Research Laboratory for New Foods and Nutrition. With ongoing research in plant-based dairy alternatives and protein development already underway, the UNAHUR APP aims to connect more students with hands-on research while inspiring new projects.

The UNLP Alt Protein Project

The National University of La Plata (UNLP), also located in Buenos Aires, Argentina,  is home to three research institutes that will support alternative protein research and development: the Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, the Research and Development Center for Industrial Fermentations, and the Center for Research and Development in Food Science and Technology. The UNLP APP team is eager to use their university’s expertise in fermentation and protein characterization to expand student-led research and collaboration.

The Dartmouth Alt Protein Project

Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university located in New Hampshire, US. With its long history of liberal arts education, Dartmouth brings unique strengths to the APP global community. The founding APP team has already attended APP-supported events like the Food4Thought festival and brings relevant leadership experience from mission-aligned student groups like Effective Altruism, Better Food Foundation, and Allied Scholars for Animal Protection. Students can pursue alternative protein innovation through the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship and engage with agricultural policy through the school’s many partnerships with leading policy institutions and think tanks. Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering further strengthens the campus with cutting-edge research in biotechnology and materials science, creating new opportunities for alternative protein innovation.

The McGill Alt Protein Project

McGill University, located in Quebec, Canada, is a leading hub for research in alternative protein-related fields, including bioresource engineering, food science, and human nutrition. The founding members of the McGill APP bring extensive expertise in sustainable food systems, with research spanning life cycle assessment, circular bioeconomies, and public policy. Their collaborations with organizations including the National Research Council Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, their creation of the CellAg Sustainability and AI Collective, and their funding from the New Harvest Student Activation Fund prove that the team is well set to build a strong alternative protein community.

The UMBC Alt Protein Project

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is home to bwtech, a research and technology park including a startup accelerator, scale-up program, and entrepreneur-in-residence program. The school has strong STEM programs through their colleges of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and Engineering and Information Technology. The UMBC APP team is excited to bring alternative proteins to a campus that is already passionate about the environment, sustainability, and innovation.

The University of Alberta Alt Protein Project

The University of Alberta’s food science program and active cellular agriculture research community provide an excellent academic foundation for students interested in alternative proteins. Researchers are advancing topics ranging from faba bean applications for plant-based meat to beef cell line development through the university’s Institute for Cellular Agriculture. The Alberta APP founders are a part of New Harvest’s “Defining, Enhancing, and Refining Agricultural Inputs and the Supply Chains of Cellular Agriculture and Biomanufacturing of Food” fellowship, bringing substantial research experience. The founding team has also already begun building an alternative protein community on campus through tastings, laboratory tours, and educational workshops.

The University of Guelph Alt Protein Project

Situated in Canada’s leading agrifood and food technology hub, the University of Guelph benefits from proximity to thousands of food companies and key government agencies such as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. The university’s engineering school also hosts the Canadian Food Engineering Conference, reflecting its leadership in food innovation. Faculty are advancing alternative protein research through projects such as Dr. Guneet Kaur’s work in microbial engineering and waste valorization and Dr. Ashutosh Singh’s research on processing methods to improve plant-based protein digestibility. Furthermore, the university’s food science program provides expertise in product development, sensory science, and agricultural innovation.

The University of Nebraska Alt Protein Project

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is a land-grant university known for its rigorous programs in agriculture and natural resources. Centers such as the Plant Science Innovation Center and the Nebraska Food for Health Center provide valuable infrastructure for alternative protein research. The university is already home to many alternative protein research projects, such as Dr. Kaustav Majumder’s research on plant protein functionality and bioactive peptides for human health and collaborations with Dr. Toshihiro Obata and Dr. Jinliang Yang to study crops such as soybean, maize, and wheat. The UNL APP seeks to connect students with these research opportunities while fostering an alternative protein community across campus.