China is rapidly expanding its production of alternative proteins using industrial fermentation methods, following a strategy similar to its past dominance in lithium-ion batteries and solar panels. A report by the Good Food Institute Asia Pacific highlights China’s shift toward precision fermentation and biomass fermentation, which produce animal-free dairy, egg proteins, and mycoprotein from fungus. Companies like Fushine Biotech and Cabio Biotech are scaling up production, with significant government support driven by food security concerns. China’s lower manufacturing costs and strategic policies aim to reduce soy imports and increase alternative proteins in domestic consumption. Meanwhile, Europe leads in alternative protein research but lacks large-scale manufacturing capacity. The European Commission’s Biotech Act II could address this gap by investing in biomanufacturing infrastructure, potentially adding €111 billion annually to the EU economy by 2040 and creating 414,000 jobs. Without action, Europe risks falling behind, repeating its past reliance on technologies developed elsewhere.
Source: Inside China’s biomanufacturing boom – and what it means for Europe’s protein race – GFI Europe
