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Our Questions
Protein is essential for a healthy diet—but not all protein sources are created equal. Many of today’s most popular options carry significant, often hidden, environmental costs that threaten climate stability, biodiversity, and long-term food security. Despite the growing urgency of these challenges, progress toward more sustainable protein consumption has been slow and fragmented.
We exist to change that. Our mission is to facilitate and accelerate the global transition toward the most beneficial sources of protein—for people and for the planet. We do this by combining rigorous, first-principles research with practical, open-access tools that empower policymakers, organisations, and consumers to make better decisions. Rather than advocating abstract ideals, we focus on what works.
Our work tackles five core questions:
1. How much protein is required for optimal health?
2. What are the best sources of protein (currently available)?
3. Why aren’t more people consuming them?
4. How can we increase consumption of them?
5. What future protein sources should we invest in?
Our Answers
1. How much protein is required for optimal health?
For healthy and physically active individuals who want to achieve optimal health outcomes, 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight is a reasonable target. Note how this is double the UK's recommendation (which was intended as a minimum, based on sedentary lifestyles - where the goal was to prevent deficiency not to optimise health nor to improve quality of life).
2. What are the best sources of protein (currently available)?
Plant-based Protein (especially tofu)
See our summary slideshow
(full report coming soon)​
3. Why aren’t more people consuming them?
The current leading consumer concern is acquiring too little protein
Source: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
4. How can we increase consumption of them?
We created an intervention that doubles the sales of sustainable protein options at Greggs (Britain's biggest fast-food chain) and we published it in an open access journal, find out more here.
To support other vendors, we created a free intervention framework that increase sales of sustainable protein sources. You can access it and additional support here.
5. What future protein sources should we invest in?
Plant-based, fermentation, and lab-grown.
(full report coming soon)
*The Better Protein Institute’s work is delivered by a lean, focused, and highly prolific team of two Cambridge-based researchers who collaborate with specialist contractors—accordingly, funding provides outsized impact per dollar within an already high-impact field. Any support would be greatly appreciated.
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