The University of Alberta Alt Protein Project

About

The University of Alberta Alternative Protein Project is an interdisciplinary student-led initiative advancing sustainable food systems through the science, engineering, and policy of alternative proteins.

We unite students, researchers, and industry partners from food science, agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, and public policy around a shared conviction: that meeting the food challenges of our time requires collaboration across disciplines. Our community creates meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the scientific and societal dimensions of food security, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.

The University of Alberta provides a uniquely strong environment for this work. Expertise in agriculture, food science, and biotechnology converges with Alberta’s established livestock and agricultural sectors, offering rare opportunities to connect traditional food systems with the emerging technologies poised to transform them.

Our members are actively engaged in cellular agriculture, cultivated meat, and plant-based protein research. Under the guidance of Dr. Ning Xiang, whose New Harvest-supported research sits at the frontier of cultivated meat science, we are growing the academic, professional, and entrepreneurial ecosystem for alternative proteins at the University of Alberta and across Canada.