Leading the Charge for Protein Development

The world’s population is expected to exceed 10 billion in the coming decades, making food security an urgent priority. Conventional animal agriculture is facing major challenges due to land shortages, environmental impacts and climate change. Solving these problems requires new solutions, and, as co-director of the newly formed Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein, I am proud to be at the forefront of this effort.

Located on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC, where I serve on the faculty, the Bezos Institute aims to revolutionize protein production with new technologies. With an increasing population, the importance of this work is important as we do not have enough land or other resources to continue growing traditional animal agriculture at the same pace.

The Bezos Earth Fund recently sponsored a global competition to support sustainable protein research. We were evaluated and considered the top production in the US, and we were supported by the Bezos Earth Fund to create the first center of its kind.

The Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein aims to take major steps in several key areas:

• Research and Development—The agency’s r&d team will focus on enabling technologies for cost-effective, environmentally sustainable production of meat ingredients and plant-based, fermented and processed food products. planted.
• Workforce Development – Building on NC State’s Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center along with the Center for Environmental Agriculture, the workforce development team will develop training and education programs based on industry needs and contributions.
• Capacity Building – Engaging with community stakeholders (consumers, farmers and policy makers) to understand their views on sustainable protein food.

The Bezos Center will use a hybrid operating model, combining physical and virtual components. Our collaborative approach is reflected in a diverse group of institutions such as UNC Pembroke, North Carolina A&T University, Duke University and Forsyth Tech Community College. The institute is very multifaceted and is run by the faculty of the group. We have people from engineering, life sciences, food science and even education. This broad collaboration reflects a belief in the power of different perspectives to tackle complex problems.

While I focus on the research and scientific aspects as chief scientific officer, my co-director, William Aimutis—with 40 years of experience in the industry—will oversee the day-to-day operations as chief operating officer. Combining academic and industrial perspectives, our collaboration is a great strength.

The Bezos Institute is at the forefront of a revolutionary process in protein production, driven by cutting-edge research, workforce development and community involvement. By harnessing the combined power of diverse academic and industry expertise, we are setting new standards for sustainable practices in food production, technological development and fostering academic growth. The Bezos Foundation is poised to make a major contribution to a sustainable and secure food future.

My vision is to change the way we produce protein to complement existing sources. And my involvement with SME played a big role in creating this project. Through SMEs, I have gained valuable information about advanced manufacturing, built a professional network and kept up to date with the latest technological developments.

By being involved with SMEs, I experienced a lot of personal growth, especially when working with students. I think the opportunities to work with students, especially when I was a student chapter advisor, were very valuable. It is not just about guiding them; you get a lot of new ideas and new knowledge that way. I look forward to continuing to be a part of SME and contributing in any way I can, as I also benefit from the relationship.