An analysis by the Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) reveals an explosion of innovation in the alternative protein sector: patents published by European companies and research institutes have increased by 960% in the last decade, reaching 1.191 in 2023 compared to just 124 in 2015.
The average annual growth of 32% has brought the total number of patents to over 5.000, with Switzerland in the lead (1.232 patents since 2015) and Germany in first place by number of holders (82). However, innovation is concentrated in a few countries: Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom account for 72% of all registered patents.
The sector is dominated by plant-based products, which account for 74% of patents. Research into cultured meat and precision fermentation is more limited, with key areas such as breeding better protein cultures and optimizing culture media still underdeveloped.
Despite the progress, the report highlights the need for more open-access research and public-private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of these innovative solutions. According to GFI Europe, government support will be crucial to ensure a strong ecosystem, fostering sustainable growth and food security.
