The Protein Lab
In 2023, we are convening a series of one-day workshops where experts from across different sectors will come together to discuss how our food system can support the transition towards sustainable protein sources.
The focus will be on fostering cooperation between different players in the food system to bring about a faster change.
Bringing the system together
Tangible progress is already underway in Switzerland in terms of producing cultivated or plant-based meat products. The government is looking into the potential of innovative protein solutions, Swiss investors are developing a taste for alternative meat products and an increasing number of farmers are evaluating their production focus.
The Protein Lab attendees will be representative of the many stakeholders who are involved in the transition. Participants will include food scientists, investors, policymakers, producers, health experts and activists. Together, we will take a deep dive into problems around how the food system operates that are currently slowing down progress. Using an exploratory process, we will seek to understand the risks and opportunities presented by sustainable protein solutions from the perspective of all the relevant stakeholders.
An innovative process
The Protein Lab follows the Social Innovation Laboratories model of change and will be a collaborative undertaking with collaboratio helvetica and the Bern University of Applied Sciences. The model involves looking at the root causes of complex social problems rather than just treating the symptoms. In this case, we want to understand the factors that are hindering the much-needed shift away from traditional agriculture. Following an open and non-prescriptive model, we look forward to learning from the participants around the question: How can we accelerate the protein transition in Switzerland, and what are the leverage points where we can affect the most change?
The project has been made possible by the support of the Minerva Foundation, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network SDSN Switzerland, ProVeg International and private donors.
Learn more about our thinking behind and the context of the Protein Lab project in our announcement blog. Please note that the Protein Lab will be conducted in German. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact project manager Silvano Lieger.