RFP on Alternative Protein R&D
Supports research to solve taste and price barriers in alternative proteins, prioritizing off-flavor reduction, fat alternatives, egg replacement, and fish flavor characterization.
Funder: Coefficient Giving
Due Dates: August 10, 2026: Full application submission deadline (applications will remain open until Aug 10, 2026)
Funding Amounts: Up to $10 million total; individual awards typically $100,000–$1 million each, with 2–3 year durations (max 3.5 years).
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research to solve core taste and price barriers limiting adoption of alternative proteins, with priority on off-flavor reduction, fat alternatives, egg replacement, and fish flavor characterization.
Key Information: Awards are made on a rolling basis; applicants from academia, industry, and public research globally are eligible.
Description
This funding opportunity from Coefficient Giving is designed to accelerate foundational research on alternative proteins, specifically targeting the most significant obstacles—taste and price—that limit mainstream adoption. The program seeks to address pre-competitive challenges that are unlikely to be solved by individual companies or current public/private R&D, such as reducing off-flavors in plant and fermentation-derived proteins, developing advanced fat alternatives for improved flavor and texture, innovating in egg reduction and replacement, and characterizing fish flavors in welfare-priority species. The initiative aims to catalyze breakthroughs that make alternative proteins more competitive with animal products, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary, industry-connected research that can deliver scalable, impactful solutions.
