Backing the future of food: Poland’s NCBR on funding alt-protein R&D

How public funding in Poland is supporting innovation in the alternative protein sector

As the alternative protein sector scales in ambition, early-stage support remains vital to help innovative ideas become market-ready solutions. Across Europe, national and EU funding schemes play a crucial role in shaping the future of food, and Poland is no exception.

Aiding this shift in Poland is the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) – a key public funding body that supports R&D projects across sectors, including agrifood. From strategic programmes like BIOSTRATEG and NUTRITECH to high-impact investments in cultivated meat and plant-based innovation, NCBR is helping to accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable, diversified protein supply.

To better understand how public funding supports innovation in the alt-protein sector – and what lies ahead – we spoke with Dr. Joanna Łopacka, Ph.D, an expert at NCBR with deep insight into national priorities, EU funding mechanisms, and the evolving needs of the agri-food industry.

In conversation with Dr. Joanna Łopacka, Ph.D, NCBR

How have you supported innovative projects in the agri-food sector so far?

Most of the calls for proposals announced by NCBR so far have been open, without a narrow thematic scope. This allows entities from different sectors, including agri-food, to apply for funding for innovative projects. At the same time, we consider current market needs and strategic national challenges by launching targeted programmes and thematic calls. We direct funding toward the most pressing identified needs.

It has been 10 years since the launch of the first call under the strategic programme ‘Environment, Agriculture and Forestry – BIOSTRATEG’. Three rounds of this programme have led to dozens of contracts for R&D projects. We are currently analysing the outcomes and impact of this programme and will use our findings to shape a new strategic competition for the sector.

In the previous EU financial perspective (2014-2020), we launched a thematic call initiative called ‘Fast Track – Agrotech’, which resulted in 54 signed contracts with a total value of PLN 362 million. This funding came from European Funds under the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020.

Then, in 2022, we launched the government programme ‘NUTRITECH – Nutrition in the context of improving societal wellbeing and addressing climate change.’ On 25 April this year, we opened the second call for applications under this programme, and I encourage interested businesses and scientists to apply. Please note, however, that in this edition, the main focus is on the thematic area ‘T1. Nutrigenomics and biomedicine as a tool to support the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases (including diet-related diseases).’ Applications for this second NUTRITECH call are open until 25 July 2025 at 16:00.

So far, how has your support been for the alternative protein sector, including sub-sectors like plant-based alternatives, fermentation, and cellular agriculture?

NCBR’s support mainly consists of non-refundable funding for R&D projects. We regularly launch national, EU, and international programmes and calls for proposals.

Alternative proteins may be included in most open calls and in every initiative we’ve launched specifically for the agri-food sector. While this is still a relatively new area, we are seeing a steady increase in both the number of submitted projects and the funding they receive. For instance, under the ‘Fast Track – Agrotech’ call in 2020, which included a scope titled ‘Sustainable agriculture and agri-food processing, innovative food, agricultural biotechnology,’ only two projects related to plant-based substitutes for animal protein were submitted. This was a good time to realise the potential and build a competitive edge ahead of the market boom for these products.

Regarding cultivated meat, last year’s ‘SMART Path’ competition (part of the European Funds for Smart Economy programme) awarded over PLN 9 million to LabFarm, a company specialising in cultivated meat production, to support further development.

In the same programme (call FENG.01.01-IP.01-001/24), Tarczyński S.A. ranked first on the list with a project titled ‘Development of an innovative plant protein preparation for a new generation of traditional and plant-based cured meat products…,’ receiving almost PLN 38 million in funding. We are looking forward to the outcomes of these projects.

How does funding for alternative protein projects compare with funding for animal-based production? Are there any noticeable trends?

Every project submitted to NCBR undergoes a thorough evaluation by external experts. While we indicate areas of interest in our calls, we do not favour specific types of projects. The quality and innovative value of each application determine its success.

When we compare the number of projects or the amount of funding for alternative proteins versus animal-based projects, animal-based initiatives still have a clear advantage. This reflects a natural imbalance tied to current market dynamics – conventional meat processing companies tend to be large, long-established players with significant resources and industry know-how. They are highly proactive in pursuing funding for product development and innovation. Thanks to their widespread facilities across the country, they also have the physical infrastructure needed to support the emergence and testing of new ideas.

In contrast, alternative protein producers are often young companies or startups, although large meat and dairy processors are also entering this space to diversify their product lines and appeal to new consumer groups, including vegetarians and vegans. These companies often submit multiple funding applications – some focused on animal-based products and others on plant-based alternatives. As a result, when we assess funding purely by protein type, the distribution may not seem proportional. However, there is a clear and growing interest in alternative proteins, which is increasingly reflected in both the volume and quality of project submissions, as well as in the level of support we provide.

In your opinion, can investments in alternative protein sources contribute to food security in Poland and the EU (e.g. in the context of Poland’s current EU Council presidency)?

Food security is a complex concept, influenced by many factors. In recent years, there has been growing awareness of its links to climate change and the declining availability of natural resources for food production. Investment in this area is crucial, as innovations aiming to scale and reach consumers typically require financial support in their early stages.

Today’s food systems need major changes to cope with projected environmental and demographic challenges. Forecasts suggest that the global share of alternative proteins in the overall protein mix will double over the next decade.

Now is the right time to take advantage of this potential. Expanding and diversifying protein sources can enhance our competitiveness and resilience in the years ahead. While livestock-based protein will remain central to global food supply for the foreseeable future, greater diversity in protein sources and extraction technologies adds significant value and contributes meaningfully to long-term food security.

What are the prospects for new initiatives and programmes to support innovation in the alternative protein sector?

Funding applications can be submitted to any of the calls under the European Funds for Smart Economy programme. Currently, we are not planning to limit thematic scopes within these EU-funded competitions, so any entrepreneur with an innovative idea can apply.

As mentioned, the second call under the NUTRITECH programme is open from 25 April to 25 July 2025. Although the main theme of this edition is nutrigenomics and biomedicine, the complementary areas include topics related to alternative protein sources, so there’s room for strong proposals from the sector.

Looking ahead, the Agrostrateg programme for the agri-food sector is nearing finalisation following industry consultations. It is also worth mentioning the EU’s STEP initiative, which focuses on critical technologies and reducing the EU’s strategic dependencies. One of the initiative’s three key areas is biotechnology, including its applications in agri-food. The programme’s documentation is currently being prepared, and the first call for proposals is expected in the third quarter of this year.

To stay updated, I encourage stakeholders to subscribe to the NCBR newsletter, visit our website, and follow our social media for announcements and competition details.

Accelerating the shift

From large-scale investments in cultivated meat to dedicated agri-food R&D calls, the NCBR is building a bridge between today’s dominant food systems and the more diverse, resilient protein economy of tomorrow.

While animal-based producers still dominate funding figures – a reflection of their maturity and resources – a clear trend is emerging: alternative protein companies are gaining momentum, and the NCBR is increasingly backing this growth.

With programmes like NUTRITECH open for applications and new initiatives such as Agrostrateg and STEP on the horizon, now is a pivotal time for alt-protein innovators in Poland and beyond to tap into public support.

For businesses looking to secure funding and shape the future of food, Dr. Łopacka’s message is clear: stay informed, be bold, and apply.

For more support on your alternative protein strategy, get in touch with ProVeg Poland or ProVeg International. And don’t forget to subscribe to the New Food Hub’s newsletter and podcast!