SCET’s Alt:Meat Lab Receives $800K Grant from Open Philanthropy

The UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) received a grant of $800K from Open Philanthropy this spring. The grant supports programs offered under SCET’s Alternative Meats Lab (Alt:Meat Lab), through which student researchers explore new solutions in sustainable food production.

Building on previous grants awarded in 2019 and 2022, this two-year funding allows the Alt:Meat Lab to continue to support students building new ventures in the field of plant-based food technology.

During Fall 2024, this grant will support the course ENGIN 198-002: Exploring Sustainable Food Production, facilitated by Alt:Meat co-founder Ricardo San Martin. This course tackles challenges in the plant-based food industry, encouraging students to create new technology-based food products and startups.

Alumni from Alt:Meat Lab courses have produced successful plant-based meat startups, including Prime Roots, Sundial Foods, Impact Foods and Black Sheep Foods. The goal of Open Philanthropy’s grant is to foster innovation in the plant-based meat industry to create products that are better for the environment, human health and animal welfare.

About the UC Berkeley Alternative Meats Lab

The Alternative Meats Lab at UC Berkeley helps entrepreneurs and researchers investigate the next generation of foods such as plant-based meats,  dairy substitutes, and alternative sources of fat and protein. Operating out of the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Alt: Meat lab seeks to foster an open and collaborative space, where aspiring entrepreneurs are developing novel solutions to address food’s current impact on the environment, health, and animal welfare.

About Open Philanthropy

Open Philanthropy identifies outstanding giving opportunities, makes grants, follows the results, and publishes its findings. Its mission is to give as effectively as it can and share the findings openly so that anyone can build on them.