Beyond Meat’s UK Expansion

Beyond doubling down on chicken is no surprise—cost-effective formats like nuggets and strips are still the biggest levers for mainstream entry. 

ICL’s Hybrid Meatball at IFFA

Hybrids are no longer stepping stones—they’re strategic. Expect more legacy meat companies to play in this space, especially as margins tighten and emissions reporting becomes mandatory.

Eat Just’s Vegan Powder

Eat Just’s clean-label powder is a smart bet for the “ingredient-conscious” shopper, though the market feels crowded. What’s missing? Price parity and localised formats for emerging markets.

New Protein Sequencing from UT Austin

Under-the-hood innovation like this will be key to improving both taste and scalability of next-gen proteins. More bio-innovation, less biotech hype.

GFI’s $3.5M in Grants

This is where GFI flexes real muscle. More funding directed at academic–industry bridges is critical to reduce time-to-market for deeptech alt-protein solutions.

FDA’s Labelling Draft

The FDA’s move toward clearer plant-based labelling is overdue—and a signal to other regulators. 

China’s Alt-Protein Push

Meanwhile, China sees food security and biotech as national priorities. If they do for alt-protein what they did for EVs, the West might soon be playing catch-up.

Alt-Protein Companies Raise $235M Globally in Q1 2025

Fermentation continues to command the confidence of investors—with nearly two-thirds of total Q1 funding. But plant-based’s share shrinking signals a maturing (or stagnating) segment unless innovation rebounds. Cultivated meat remains capital-intensive and risk-heavy; investors are playing safe bets.

European Firms Attract $509M, Signalling Investor Optimism

Europe may be tough on terminology and labelling, but investor appetite is clearly intact. This wave is likely bolstered by better-aligned public-private initiatives and grant-linked scaling opportunities. Still, there's a gap between capital flow and consumer pull.

Formo Gets $36M Venture Loan; Vivici Raises $33.7M

The EIB’s backing of Formo is a vote of confidence in precision fermentation as an industrial future—not just a novel niche. Vivici’s raise shows growing urgency to build manufacturing depth, not just R&D fluff. But venture loans vs. equity raises suggest tighter money and tougher metrics.

Glanbia Investors Push for Strategic Break-Up

It’s telling when investors eye a carve-out of a legacy player’s nutrition arm to unlock growth. The alt-protein space is no longer just for scrappy startups—it’s pressuring the old guard to adapt or get left behind. This could be the first domino in more shakeups across traditional food giants.

Climate Bonds Criteria for Alt-Protein

This is huge. Climate finance flowing into protein transition is the unlock we've been waiting for. If banks can fund roads and solar panels, why not tofu and precision fermentation?

Insect Farming's Stumble

Sometimes “future of food” isn’t scalable. Bugs may still win in feed, but human consumption was always more media fantasy than market fit. Time to focus on proven protein pathways.

Alt-Protein Market to Grow from $85.65B (2024) to $102.06B (2025)

That’s a ~$16 billion jump in a single year—on paper. But the real question isn’t just how big the market will get, it’s who gets to win. Growth projections are impressive, but until mainstream consumers embrace these products beyond trial, scale remains fragile.

Hybrid Products Gain Momentum

This is not a trend—it’s the next blueprint. The purity wars of early plant-based days are giving way to a more pragmatic approach: optimise taste, texture, and nutrition, even if it means mixing platforms. Expect hybrids to dominate menus, especially in foodservice.

Consumers Want Sustainability and Indulgence

Gone are the days of bland compromise. Today’s consumer wants their conscience clean and their cravings met. Brands that can balance climate appeal with comfort food delivery—and reflect diverse cuisines—will earn not just attention, but loyalty.