The Good Food Institute
The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes plant- and cell-based alternatives to animal products, particularly meat, dairy, and eggs. It was created in 2016 by the nonprofit organization Mercy For Animals with Bruce Friedrich as the chief executive officer. GFI has more than 100 staff across six offices in the United States, India, Israel, Brazil, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Mission. A primary motivation for GFI's founding was to address the negative impacts of global animal agriculture, particularly the industry's contribution to climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental degradation . To this end, GFI works to "make alternative proteins accessible, affordable, and delicious" since plant- and cell-based animal product alternatives contribute significantly less to the aforementioned problems. Activities. GFI engages scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs in a variety of activities to advance the alternative protein industry, which includes manufacturers and retailers of plant-based, cellular agriculture and protein fermentation products. Strategic support. GFI provides strategic support to start-ups and established food companies, restaurants, and major meat producers to help them develop and advertise alternative proteins. Scientific research. GFI creates open-access resources and publishes scientific research about plant-based  and cell-based meat technology. Market research. GFI publishes annual State of the Industry Reports for the plant-based, cellular agriculture and protein fermentation industries. The 2020 reports show that: In 2018, nonprofit research firm Faunalytics partnered with GFI to measure consumer attitudes towards cell-based meat when presented with information about its environmental and societal benefits. Sixty-six percent of respondents said they would try cell-based meat; 53% would eat it instead of conventionally produced meat; 46% would buy it regularly; 40% would be willing to pay more for it. Grantmaking. GFI runs a competitive research grant program  to fund open-access scientific research for the development of plant-based and cell-based meat. As of 2021, GFI has awarded 38 grants totalling more than $ 7 million. The Good Food Conference. Every year in September, GFI holds a conference convening leaders across the plant-based and cell-based industries, research community, venture capital, tech sector, and traditional food industry. Legal action. GFI has filed several lawsuits to contest policies and regulations implemented by several US states and federal agencies which ban producers of plant-based products from labeling that uses terminology conventionally associated with animal products, such  as "soy milk" and "veggie burger". Reception. In 2018, GFI participated in the startup accelerator Y Combinator, receiving funding and strategic support. Y Combinator lists "cellular agriculture and clean meat" as one of its funding priorities, stating that "the world will massively benefit from a more sustainable, cheaper and more healthy production of meat". GFI has ties with the effective altruism movement, having received endorsements and financial support from several effective altruism affiliated organizations. For instance, Open Philanthropy awarded GFI with several major grants in support of its general operations and international expansion, totalling $6.5 million as of August  2021. Sam Harris' Waking Up Foundation recommends GFI as one of its top charities.