LIKE-A-PRO
The aim of the EU-funded Horizon Europe project LIKE-A-PRO is to facilitate sustainable and healthy diets by transforming the alternative protein market, with the development of high-protein products that are more available, accessible and acceptable to all population groups, regardless of location or socio-economic level. To this end, 16 innovative alternative protein products will be developed from 7 novel and optimised protein sources. This social innovation will take place in 11 living labs and in 4 real life food environments.
Innovative, sustainable, local, affordable and industrially viable are the parameters that will mark the development of these 16 products, ensuring their successful market launch.
To achieve this goal, the LIKE-A-PRO consortium involves 42 organisations, representatives of the entire alternative protein value chain (protein producers, ingredient and product developers, culinary centres, food clusters), scientists and communication experts.
To secure result deployment, the project will actively involve middle food system actors (+35,000 companies) – via co-creation and capacity building. For a maximised impact, innovative communication campaigns will be launched in 6 countries.
European consumers are showing a growing interest in the inclusion of alternative proteins in their diets as a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional animal-based foods. The growing attraction of consumers to such products is seen as the perfect pathway to a more sustainable and healthier European diet.
However, to date, animal products contribute around 67% of protein intake, representing an essential part of our diet. While consumer willingness to reduce animal protein consumption is more than evident, more efforts are needed to facilitate and accelerate the protein switch by offering a wide range of possibilities that will appeal to even the most reluctant consumer.
To enable a change in the protein diet, the food industry must focus on the diversification of alternative protein sources and the development of attractive new products, thus meeting consumer demands in terms of increased choice and product quality.
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The project started in November 2022, it will last 4 years and gathers 42 partners from 14 different European countries:
CTIC CITA Technology Centre (ES) – project coordinator, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (DE), Ynsect NL R&D BV (NL), Ynsect (FR) – third party, Moreforsking AS (NO), Rimfrost AS (NO), Calidris Bio (BE), Mushroom Technological Research Center of La Rioja (ES), Kinoko Tech Ltd (IL), Celabor Scrl (BE), Biozoon GmbH (DE), Revo Foods GmbH (AT), Flowfood AS (NO), Carnes de Teruel S.A. (ES), Naturuel SL (ES) – third party, Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production gGmbH (DE), SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (PL), The American College of Greece Research Center (EL), ITC — Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota (SI), Zeytince Association for Supporting Ecological Lives (TR), Demos Research Institute oy (FI), Foodlab Proef (BE), Basque Culinary Centre (ES), Stichting Foodvalley (NL), Food & Bio Cluster Denmark (DK), Spread European Safety and Sustainability GEIE (IT), Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires (FR) – third party, Syndesmos Ellinikon Viomichanion Trofimon Somateio (EL) – third party, Lebensmittelversuchsanstalt (AT) – third party, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (SI) – third party,Federação das Indústrias Portuguesas Agro-Alimentares (PT) – third party, Federation of the Food and Drink Industries of the Czech Republic (CZ) – third party, Federazione Italiana dell’Industria Alimentare (IT) – third party, Federación Española de Industrias de la Alimentación y Bebidas (ES) – third party, Türkiye Süt, Et, Gıda Sanayicileri ve Üreticileri Birliği (TR) – third party, Innovarum (ES), Green Food Lab BV (NL), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (IT), Fundacion Gaiker (ES), Alimentos Sanygran SL (ES), SAFE Food Advocacy Europe (BE), 21 Markets B.V. (NL)
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Innovation Actions under Grant Agreement No. 101083961.
For more information, check out the project webpage on the European Commission website.
