The Ahmadu Bello University Alt Protein Project

About

The Alt Protein Project at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is a student-led initiative dedicated to establishing a sustainable, resilient food system in West Africa. Our core objective is to integrate alternative protein education, research, and innovation into our university’s academic fabric, turning our campus into a primary pipeline for future scientific talent. Guided by the values of effective altruism, data-driven advocacy, and scientific excellence, we strive to build an ecosystem that addresses the intersection of animal welfare, food security, and public health.

What makes our group uniquely positioned is our placement within the largest agricultural, veterinary, and life science research complex in Northern Nigeria. Ahmadu Bello University stands out for integrating the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), the Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC), the Center for Biotechnology Research and Training (CBRT), and the Department of Biochemistry. This specific combination means our hub bridges the entire supply chain needed for alternative proteins from the crop science expertise at IAR to the molecular and cellular research capabilities within Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Embedding our hub alongside the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine allows us to directly introduce advanced food biotechnology into a traditional farming landscape, utilizing established laboratories to train the next generation of scientists.

Our community has already achieved significant grassroots milestones. Operating through a strategic partnership with the university’s Animal Welfare Club, our leadership team has built a strong foundation engineered to educate hundreds of students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds on the necessity of a protein transition. We have successfully established a cross-disciplinary student hub, engaged key faculty members in foundational discussions regarding curriculum co-design, and laid the strategic groundwork to expand this student network to other major universities across Northern Nigeria.