Support of Network Strengthening Grant will provide added values: (i) further strengthen collaboration and continue UK-Vietnam alternative protein network activities which will now be expanded to wider SE Asia; (ii) leverage state-of-the-art facilities of Medway Food Innovation Centre (MFIC) in NRI to help Vietnam staying ahead of plant protein innovation curve in the SE Asia; (iii) UK-Vietnam industry partnership would be expanded   thereby offering improved bi-lateral trade in the emerging area of plant-based food; (iv) larger funding will help ECR recruitment to study changing landscape of sustainable protein transition in Vietnam and SE Asia as well as incentivise community participation; (v) grant will support proposed research on sustainable protein technologies and the outcome should de-risk future investment for innovation in Vietnam and SE Asia; (vi) potential opportunity for additional match funding via linking to $30m Bezos Centre where NRI is involved.

Larger funding should enable support for new activities in addition to the current network platform as follows: (i) by leveraging business network (e.g. 100+ UK companies), NRI's plant-based food accelerator will unlock wider UK-Vietnam partnership to drive commercial opportunity; (ii) novel research will be set up at HUST on upcycled rice protein processing, safety and value chain analysis via collaborating with alternative protein expertise of MFIC; (iii) project will ensure socio-economic resilience by identifying levers for just transition for animal- alternative plant protein in SE Asia food system; (iv) community engagement workshop on plant protein innovation will ensure drivers for new technology adoption by understanding consumer insights and  stakeholder participation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

This project can drive climate-smart productivity growth by delivering following benefits:

🌱 Creation of new, sustainable agri-food value chain by generating plant protein from high volume rice waste (25-35%) should enable soaring market growth and address export demand of plant protein via harnessing food sustainability and socio-ecological resilience to climate

♻️ The projected waste valorization can provide better resource efficiency (agriculture contributes 20% of Vietnam’s GDP) thereby diversifying incomes of small-scale farmers, supporting circular economy and concomitant development of sustainable protein technologies in the region.

🛡️ Reduction of trace contamination uptake should improve agri-food product safety thereby preventing health hazards and saving medical costs, which should impact economic development and healthy

🤝 This multidisciplinary network engaging international stakeholders will further strengthen alternative protein research cooperation in Vietnam and SE Asia as well as promote knowledge exchange in this emerging areas of food innovation which should help building skilled workforce, promoting early career and female researchers in the region.

🌍 By strengthening research capacity and cultivating cross-sectoral network, a transformational change can be brought within the food system by addressing climate change impacts effectively by reducing the carbon impact of agricultural commodity production.