GFI India’s repository of R&D innovation priorities in smart proteins

Discover ideas for your R&D work in plant-based, fermentation-derived alternative proteins, and cultivated meat.

Key: Digital art icon of a burger, representing cultivated meat. Cultivated A digital art icon of a cell, representing fermentation. Fermentation A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based
Opportunity Production platform Value chain segment Technology sector
Bioreactor scale-up engineering solutions for cultivated meat

To scale cultivated meat towards market readiness, standard 2D cultures or stirred flasks are not a viable option for large-scale growth and must be replaced by bioreactors capable of supporting…

Digital art icon of a burger, representing cultivated meat. Cultivated Bioprocess design
Cost-effective media development and optimisation for cultivated meat and seafood applications

Very few cell culture media formulations (including growth, maintenance, or differentiation growth factor cocktails) are publicly available for animal species and cell types relevant to cultivated meat.

Digital art icon of a burger, representing cultivated meat. Cultivated Media optimisation
Cell line repositories and standardised isolation and maintenance protocols

Currently, there appears to be little to no consensus at this stage in the cultivated meat field regarding which starter cell type is preferable. There is a need to improve…

Digital art icon of a burger, representing cultivated meat. Cultivated Cell line development
Technology and production innovation priorities in fermentation

A majority of the current fermentation production facilities (including contract manufacturers) are optimised for applications in industrial biotechnology and bioethanol production with submerged fermentation using classical stirred tank bioreactors.

A digital art icon of a cell, representing fermentation. Fermentation Fermentation tech scale-up and production
Non-thermal, chemical-free approaches for protein purification

Protein functionality is governed by its degree of purity. Membrane filtration is a promising technology to obtain pristine and functional proteins from plant-based sources, microalgae, and seaweeds. It is worth…

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based R&D Ingredient optimization
Technological interventions to improve the ‘clean-label’ claims of plant-based foods

Consumers prefer clean-label food ingredients and end products. Employing science-based innovations to eliminate the need for synthetic additives would be an effective approach.

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based R&D End product formulation and manufacturing
Development and standardisation of novel, sustainable and green technologies for plant protein extraction

Adopting a sustainable, scalable, and mild extraction technology is central to the functionality of plant proteins. Optimising green technologies for protein extraction and assessing their environmental impact will aid in their…

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based R&D Ingredient optimization
Identification, characterisation and validation of novel plant protein sources for smart protein applications

The plant-based smart protein industry is aiming at diversifying plant protein sources to substitute animal-derived proteins. Exploring the protein potential of untapped indigenous crops of India and mapping their nutritional…

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based Raw materials, ingredients, and inputs Ingredient optimization
Optimisation of novel texturization technologies (3D printing, fibre spinning, shear cell) for the development of plant-based meat products

Exploring novel top-down and bottom-up technologies for texturising plant proteins can catalyse product innovations. Optimising the processing and formulation parameters for 3D printing, fibre spinning, and shear cell technologies can…

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based R&D End product formulation and manufacturing
Novel approaches to develop alternative fats for plant-based food applications

Alternative fat is a key building block of plant-based meat, contributing towards the juiciness, tenderness, and mouthfeel of products. Modifying molecular structures of plant-based oils to create solid fats and…

A digital art icon of green peas in a pea pod, representing plant-based meat. Plant-Based Raw materials, ingredients, and inputs Ingredient optimization