Alternative protein Research and Innovation funding landscape analysis (gfi_Europe)

This report contains a "Headline statistics" page which functions as an executive summary. It has been reproduced exactly below.

Headline statistics

Alternative protein research is undergoing tremendous growth in Europe, with an average year-on-year growth in funding over five years of 44%.

Since 2020, when funding for alternative proteins across Europe totalled just over €80 million, the field has seen rapid expansion, to over €320 million allocated in 2024, a 296% increase.

The top three countries leading the way in investing in alternative protein R&I in Europe between 2020-2024, are the UK (€127 million), Denmark (€126 million) and the Netherlands (€77 million). With €308 million invested since 2020, the European Commission is the highest-funding jurisdiction.

On a per capita basis, some smaller countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden significantly outperform their larger neighbours.

Funding has come from more than 67 independent funding bodies, representing 22 countries across Europe, as well as global funders.

12 of these funders made their first investment into the field in 2024, suggesting a growing number of funders are exploring the area.

Plant-based protein research has received the most funding over the last five years (€444 million), but fermentation research was the best-funded pillar in 2024 (with over €100 million awarded in that year alone) and has a higher rate of year-on-year growth over the entire period (77% compared to 27% for plant-based). Cultivated meat remains some way behind, with just €92 million of funding so far.