Plant-based meat made on the farm? ‘Revolutionary’ short supply chain project backed by EU

Compared to conventional meat production, plant-based burgers, sausages, and bacon products are considered significantly more sustainable. According to research​, plant-based meat substitutes have on average 50% lower environmental impact. But could production of plant-based meat alternatives be made more sustainably still? A new project in Italy is investigating whether shorter supply chains can help develop sustainable business opportunities and add value for farmers. The VALPRO Path project, co-funded by Horizon Europe and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds, aims to direct food chain actors towards more sustainable plant protein production for food and feed. Five Innovation Production Systems (IPSs) will be explored across the EU, including IPS1 in Italy under the leadership of the University of Turin. Its ambition is to shorten supply chains, bring added value closer to the farm, and set new standards for industry. By processing plant-based raw materials locally or even ...