In “Feeding The Future: Why IP Matters In Alternative Proteins”, we hear from Mathys & Squire Partner and UK & European patent attorney Laura Clews on the latest innovation in the alternative proteins sector, a rapidly evolving field which marries food and science.
We are entering a new generation of consumption, where meat can be grown in a lab, and the tide is turning to scalable, accessible products, huge progress from the first cell-cultured burger some 10-15 years ago which cost over £200,000.
Drawing on her deep expertise of the IP landscape in alternative proteins, Laura banishes the misconception that you cannot get patent protection in the food industry. Instead, she emphasises how vital it is for innovators to build an IP strategy and provides her top tips for an effective one.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify here.
Episode summary
Topics discussed🎙️
- Uncovering what is meant by ‘alternative proteins’, looking at definitions plant-based, cell-cultured, fermented and insect proteins, and how the sector has expanded rapidly over the past 10 to 15 years.
- Innovation trends in alternative proteins, such as cutting-edge methods in cell-cultured meat to improve taste and texture.
- An analysis of where patents are being filed (US, China, South Korea, Europe) and how regulatory approval and market access affects filing behaviour.
- Why IP protection is critical in this sector due to intense competition, the high cost of R&D and the detrimental consequences if you don’t protect your invention.
- How to build an effective IP strategy to protect innovation while managing costs.
Key takeaways💡
- Alternative proteins are a fast-growing, high-value sector: The market is predicted to be worth around £25bn by 2029 with intense innovation and competition.
- Innovation has shifted from proof to scalability: Early patents focused on feasibility; current innovation targets cost, scale, consumer acceptance and experience.
- Regulation shapes IP behaviour: Countries that approve alternative proteins and support innovation see increased patent filings and investment.
- It is essential to file for a patent before the product reaches market: Once the product is sold, all information is considered disclosed and you cannot safeguard it.
- Trade secrets are not always possible in food tech: Mandatory food labelling may mean that information cannot be kept confidential.
- Early IP planning saves time and money in the long run: Clear strategy, confidentiality controls and early searching reduce risk and improve investor confidence.
Notable quotes🔊
- “You have so many different companies all trying to get to the same endpoint, but they do it in completely different ways, so we saw universities growing cells on blades of grass, you have people decellularising plant leaves to grow it in the veins of the plants […], you had universities using lego to produce electrospinning techniques, you have 3D printing.”
- “Companies tend to think, I’ll just deal with [IP] later, but it’s awful when people do this, because, once they’ve sold their product, any information that you can glean from that product through analytical techniques is considered to be disclosed […] and then you can’t at a later date protect that information.”
- “When people are in a startup and may not have worked with intellectual property before, it is heartbreaking to have to tell people that, at a later date, you cannot protect this way, because you can see how innovative people are and how much time and effort that must have taken, and you desperately want people to get the protection they deserve.”
- “When we meet new clients, especially when they don’t have much experience in IP, the main three aspects are strategy, confidentiality, searching.”
