Building alternative protein programs and majors at universities

Current challenge

University programs and majors help students develop synergistic competencies and career path insights through the classes they take. Most students look for jobs related to their major/minor/concentration when they graduate. Likewise, employers use university programs to focus their recruitment efforts. The alternative protein industry has significant need for graduates with specialized relevant knowledge spanning multiple traditional disciplines. However, virtually no universities offer alternative protein majors, and alternative protein subject matter—if offered at all—is often presented as ancillary to a more conventional area of study. As a result, current programming does not adequately convey the depth and complexity of the career and research opportunities available in the alternative protein space. Thus, large cohorts of talented, interested students do not have a clear educational pathway to enter the alternative protein space—or compelling incentives to do so.

Proposed solution

Creating robust university programming that prioritizes alternative protein will require several overlapping efforts at each school:

• Define certificate program pathways that are interdisciplinary (business, marketing, etc.), and allow for disciplinary specialization.
• Develop relationships at universities with subject matter expert faculty who want to see more robust programming in their departments.
• Secure space and resources (e.g., labs and equipment) for use in alternative protein programs.
• Work with campus organizations that represent women, BIPOC, and low-income students to ensure that programs provide support for anyone who wants to enroll.
• Strategically support exemplary alternative protein curriculum development at a key target school so that high-quality material is available for templating new certificate programs.
• Cultivate relationships with industry partners who can facilitate practicum classes and internships. In particular, provide support to HBCUs in networking with an industry that employs disproportionately few Black and indigenous graduates.

Anticipated impact

Alternative protein degree and certificate programs are likely to increase the number of highly qualified graduates seeking careers in the alternative protein field. This will increase the talent available for existing businesses and research institutes. It will also lead to the establishment of new businesses and institutes, facilitating market competition and scientific collaboration that are more likely to generate industry-advancing products and ideas. In the long term, a well-established alternative protein industry that routinely creates jobs in conjunction with widespread, well-regarded degree/certificate programs will incentivize younger people to pursue pre-college skills relevant to alternative protein, further improving the potential human capital available to the industry.

Related efforts

• Berkeley’s Alt.Meat Program is developing various alternative protein curriculum and resources, though it does not yet provide a certificate.
• Many other schools are hoping to build programs, including WPI, Penn State, and University of Minnesota.

GFI resources

January 31, 2019

GFI’s Massive Open Online Course teaches the basics of plant-based and cell-based meat

Following GFI’s collaborations with Stanford and Berkeley to establish courses on slaughter-free meats, we’re making this learning opportunity available to anyone and everyone.