The Good Food Institute
Abbreviation | GFI |
---|---|
Founded | 2016 |
Founder | Bruce Friedrich |
Type | United States IRS exemption status: 501(c)(3), ruling year 2016[1] |
Purpose | Alternative protein advocacy |
Location |
|
Area served | Global |
Employees | 110 |
Website | gfi |
The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes plant- and cell-based alternatives to animal products, particularly meat, dairy, and eggs.[2] It was created in 2016 by the nonprofit organization Mercy For Animals with Bruce Friedrich as the chief executive officer.[3][4] GFI has more than 100 staff across six offices in the United States, India, Israel, Brazil, Asia Pacific, and Europe.[2][5]
Mission[]
A primary motivation for GFI's founding was to address the negative impacts of global animal agriculture, particularly the industry's contribution to climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental degradation.[2][6][7] To this end, GFI works to "make alternative proteins accessible, affordable, and delicious" since plant- and cell-based animal product alternatives contribute significantly less to the aforementioned problems.[2][8][9]
Activities[]
GFI engages scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs in a variety of activities to advance the alternative protein industry, which includes manufacturers and retailers of plant-based, cellular agriculture and protein fermentation products.
Strategic support[]
GFI provides strategic support to start-ups and established food companies, restaurants, and major meat producers to help them develop and advertise alternative proteins.[8][10]
Scientific research[]
GFI creates open-access resources and publishes scientific research about plant-based and cell-based meat technology.[11][12]
Market research[]
GFI publishes annual State of the Industry Reports for the plant-based, cellular agriculture and protein fermentation industries.[13][14][15] The 2020 reports show that:
- Plant-based: U.S. plant-based meat, egg, and dairy companies raised $2.2 billion in 2020, tripling the amount from 2019.[16] The value of the U.S. plant-based retail market equaled $7 billion in 2020.[16][17]
- Cellular agriculture: Cell-based meat companies raised $366 million in 2020, increasing the 2019 figure by almost sixfold.[18] The industry grew from 55 to more than 70 companies.[18][19][20]
- Fermentation: The alternative protein fermentation industry consists of approximately 50 firms which have collectively attracted investments of $587 million in 2020.[21][22]
In 2018, nonprofit research firm Faunalytics partnered with GFI to measure consumer attitudes towards cell-based meat when presented with information about its environmental and societal benefits. Sixty-six percent of respondents said they would try cell-based meat; 53% would eat it instead of conventionally produced meat; 46% would buy it regularly; 40% would be willing to pay more for it.[23][24]
Grantmaking[]
GFI runs a competitive research grant program to fund open-access scientific research for the development of plant-based and cell-based meat.[25][26] As of 2021, GFI has awarded 38 grants totalling more than $ 7 million.[25][27][28]
The Good Food Conference[]
Every year in September, GFI holds a conference convening leaders across the plant-based and cell-based industries, research community, venture capital, tech sector, and traditional food industry.[29][30]
Legal action[]
GFI has filed several lawsuits to contest policies and regulations implemented by several US states and federal agencies which ban producers of plant-based products from labeling that uses terminology conventionally associated with animal products, such as "soy milk" and "veggie burger".[31][32][33][34][35][36]
Reception[]
In 2018, GFI participated in the startup accelerator Y Combinator, receiving funding and strategic support.[11][5] Y Combinator lists "cellular agriculture and clean meat" as one of its funding priorities, stating that "the world will massively benefit from a more sustainable, cheaper and more healthy production of meat".[37]
GFI has ties with the effective altruism movement, having received endorsements and financial support from several effective altruism affiliated organizations.[38][39][40][41] For instance, Open Philanthropy awarded GFI with several major grants in support of its general operations and international expansion, totalling $6.5 million as of August 2021.[38][42][43]
Sam Harris' Waking Up Foundation recommends GFI as one of its top charities.[44][45]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Clear Fund". Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "About | The Good Food Institute". gfi.org. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ Bowie, Richard (2016-03-04). "MFA Launches New Sister Organization". VegNews. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- ^ Fletcher, Ryan (2017-06-29). "All-One Activist: Bruce Friedrich of The Good Food Institute". Dr. Bronner's. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- ^ a b "The Good Food Institute: Building a world where alternative proteins are no longer alternative". Y Combinator. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "The GFI's Bruce Friedrich is Named an "American Food Hero" For His Work in Alt Protein". vegconomist - the vegan business magazine. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Bruce Friedrich makes the case that inventing outstanding meat replacements is the most effective way to help animals". 80,000 Hours. February 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b Righetti, Luca; Moorhouse, Fin (January 2021). "Bruce Friedrich on Protein Alternatives and the Good Food Institute". hearthisidea.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Cultivated Meat Has 92% Lower Climate Impact & Will Reach Price Parity By 2030, Says New Research". Green Queen. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Marketing plant-based proteins (2021 retail guide) | GFI". The Good Food Institute. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b Peters, Adele (2018-08-21). "Y Combinator is funding a nonprofit that advocates for meat alternatives". Fast Company. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ "Science | Alternative protein | GFI". The Good Food Institute. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Industry | Alternative proteins | GFI". gfi.org. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Torrella, Kenny (2021-04-16). "The state of the plant-based food industry". Vox. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "GFI's State of the Industry Report Reveals We Are "Closer to Realizing a World Where Alternative Proteins Are No Longer Alternative"". vegconomist - the vegan business magazine. 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b "Plant-based protein | State of the Industry Report | GFI". The Good Food Institute. 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Is meat the new meat? The rise of cultivated meat". Nutritional Outlook. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b "Cultivated meat | State of the Industry Report | GFI". The Good Food Institute. 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Southey, Flora. "Cell-based disruption: How many factories, and at what capacity, are required to supply 10% of the meat market?". foodnavigator.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Philpott, Tom. "Is lab meat about to hit your dinner plate?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Fermentation | State of the Industry Report | GFI". The Good Food Institute. 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Lorenzo, Daniela De. "How Fermentation Can Avoid Food Waste And Create Tasty Plant-Based Products". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Watson, Elaine (1 August 2018). "Clean meat: How do US consumers feel about cell cultured meat?". Food Navigator. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Peters, Adele (1 August 2018). "Most Americans will happily try eating lab-grown "clean meat"". Fast Company. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Alternative protein research grants (2021) | The Good Food Institute". gfi.org. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Dolgin, Elie (2019-02-06). "Sizzling interest in lab-grown meat belies lack of basic research". Nature. 566 (7743): 161–162. Bibcode:2019Natur.566..161D. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00373-w. PMID 30755743.
- ^ "GFI Awards $4 million for Scientists to Address Issues Including Zoonotic Disease & Antibiotic Resistance". vegconomist - the vegan business magazine. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "The Good Food Institute awards $4.5M to fill gaps in plant-based and cultivated meat science in 2019". BioSpace. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "The Good Food Conference 2021 Virtual | GFI". gfi.org. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Capital, Clear Current. "Clear Current Capital Partners With The Good Food Institute For The 2021 Good Food Conference". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Plant-based foods industry not ending fight on meat labeling". Farm Progress. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Bottemiller Evich, Helena. "SNA rallies against block grants". Politico Morning Ag. Politico. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ Boudreau, Catherine. "Hampton Creek 'Just Mayo' Scandal Spreads". Politico Morning Agriculture. Politico. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ Tsang, Amie (28 August 2018). "What, Exactly, Is Meat? Plant-Based Food Producers Sue Missouri Over Labeling". New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ Ball, Matt (28 August 2018). "GFI Goes to Court for First Amendment". The Good Food Institute. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ Mole, Beth (24 July 2019). "Arkansas' ban on veggie-meat labels is total bologna, says Tofurky". Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Requests for Startups". Y Combinator. Archived from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ a b "The Good Food Institute — International Work". Open Philanthropy. 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ "Bruce Friedrich makes the case that inventing outstanding meat replacements is the most effective way to help animals". 80,000 Hours. February 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ Righetti, Luca; Moorhouse, Fin (January 2021). "Bruce Friedrich on Protein Alternatives and the Good Food Institute". Hear This Idea Podcast. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ "Bruce Friedrich: From Agitator to Innovator". EffectiveAltruism.org. October 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ Open Philanthropy Project (November 2017). "The Good Food Institute - General Support (2017)". Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Open Philanthropy Project (October 2016). "The Good Food Institute - General Support". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Foundation - Waking Up | Waking Up". wakingup.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Making Sense Podcast #244 - Food, Climate, and Pandemic Risk". Sam Harris. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
External links[]
- Official website
- TED Talk: "The next global agricultural revolution" (2019) by Bruce Friedrich, GFI's co-founder and executive director
- American food and drink organizations
- Cellular agriculture
- Charities based in the United States
- Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.
- Organizations established in 2016
- Y Combinator nonprofit organizations
- Organizations associated with effective altruism