Lay summary
Food choices impact human and planetary health and therefore transitioning diets to more sustainable sources of protein is crucial. The plant-based protein (PBP) market is growing (estimated US$13.27 billion in 2022) but currently much dependent on imported soyabean causing food-miles and driving deforestation. A major challenge for diversification of the current PBP portfolio are the inability of alternative PBPs to compete with soyabean on price and the concentration of technical investment. This proposal will strengthen the already formed UK-Vietnam network to exploit further opportunities for PBP and rice proteins from 25-35% of waste/side-streams generated in 47 Mt rice production in Vietnam. The overarching goal is to drive research and networking activities to understand the plausible rice protein value chain and the untapped market opportunity in Vietnam which should culminate into the UK-SE Asia plant protein innovation network to unlock co-benefits of sustainable protein shift and upcycling opportunity. The proposal consists of accelerating network activities including stakeholder engagement and promoting UK-Vietnam research partnership on sustainable protein technologies which would help SE Asia to develop affordable PBP thereby propagating further trade opportunities for the UK. The 3PUKSEA project (NSGR1S2\1010) within the Network Strengthening Grants Scheme is funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences.
The network activities entail organising various research seminars, business innovation events and community engagement workshops to co-create valuable insights on the emerging market landscape of PBP, including socio-economic viability in SE Asia which will help us to perform detailed economic assessment of rice protein value chain and upcycling opportunities. The proposed research will deliver enduring climate-smart innovation by developing transformative technology for re-utilisation of protein-rich focal crops.
Subject Group/Area
- Life Sciences
- Food Innovation
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Social Sciences
Objective of the project:
- Expand the plant protein innovation network to assess emerging market landscape of upcycled rice protein, including socio-economic viability in Vietnam and wider SE Asia through the community-industry engagement workshops, capacity strengthening activities, and business innovation events
- Re-enforce UK-Vietnam collaboration to deliver research on plant protein value chain and sustainable protein technologies (e.g. upcycled rice proteins, meat and dairy alternatives etc.) via industry-academia partnership and leveraging research capacity of NRI
