Seeds of Change: Six Months of Progress at the Centre for Feed Innovation
Feb 7
In September 2024, the Centre for Feed Innovation (CFI) was launched with a single, urgent mission: to make our global food supply more sustainable and secure. Today, we’re proud to share how far we’ve come - promoting the benefits of novel feed ingredients to decision-makers across the world.
The Challenge: Feeding 10 Billion People
As the global population grows towards 10 billion, demand for animal products continues to rise. Yet, climate change threatens the supply of traditional feed sources. Novel feed ingredients, ranging from algae-based ingredients to fermented plant proteins—offer a sustainable solution to meeting the world’s growing nutritional needs.
CFI’s Solution: Accelerating Innovation in Animal Feed
Novel ingredients are a key solution in addressing declining fish stocks and rapid deforestation. By substituting traditional feed ingredients with novel, eco-friendly alternatives, we can both reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and ensure the long-term viability of global food systems.
In the past six months, we’ve engaged with investors, policymakers, businesses, and NGOs across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Below are a few highlights of our recent achievements:
Investment Advice
CFI delivered briefings and presentations on the novel feed industry to investor networks including the Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return (FAIRR) initiative and Asia Research & Engagement. By sharing scientific and market insights, our team is helping guide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment decisions on emerging feed technologies.
Policy Advocacy
Our team has met with policymakers, including representatives of the European Commission, to discuss algae-based feed innovations and has exchanged views on research funding. These engagements helped raise awareness about the environmental benefits of novel feed ingredients.
Coalition Building
We held talks with global environmental NGOs to highlight the importance of novel feed ingredients in tackling climate change and conservation. In addition, CFI has attended feed sector conferences in Brussels, Singapore, and Athens to forge alliances with producers and trade associations, strengthening collaboration between the feed industry and civil society.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
CFI’s message to all stakeholders, investors, governments, industry leaders, and NGOs remains the same: novel feed ingredients are sustainable, scalable, and safe, and are essential to securing our future food supply. CFI is expanding its engagements in 2025 in several key areas:
State of the Industry Report on Novel Feed in Aquaculture
CFI is producing an in-depth state of the industry report on novel feeds in the aquaculture industry. We are currently conducting site visits, and interviewing start-ups, feed manufacturers and academic experts. Look out for our in-depth report, which will be published later this year.
Promoting novel feeds at industry conferences
CFI will advocate for increased support of novel feed innovation at upcoming summits, including:
The World Agritech Innovation Summit and Future Food Tech Summit in San Francisco (March)
Blue Food Innovation Summit in London (April)
Innovation Zero in London (April), where CFI will moderate a panel on Sustainable Aquaculture
Hack Summit in Lausanne (May)
Investment advice
CFI continues to advise investors on the novel feed ingredient industry. We can deliver pro-bono presentations, briefings, and 1-1 advisory calls, and are also available to meet in person in London, and in San Francisco in March.
Our thanks
We remain focused on changing the course of the planet’s food system. Our progress would not be possible without the support of our dedicated advisors, donors, and collaborators. If you’d like to learn more about supporting our work—either by joining our expert network or by donating—please reach out via our website.
Together, we can unlock the potential of novel feed ingredients and build a more sustainable food system.
Collaborate with CFI
To learn more about how innovative feed solutions can shape our food system for the better, get in touch In 2025, CFI is particularly interested in collaborating with Ag Tech investors. Feel free to reach out to us via our website to learn more.
To stay updated on CFI’s latest activities and research, follow us on LinkedIn
