The most transferable skills for a career in Alt Protein
In a previous post about Lessons from my Career, I highlighted that ‘Every individual can play a part in the alternative protein movement’.
The beauty of the alternative protein & FoodTech movement is that there are many ways for individuals to get involved and make a meaningful impact. I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with people from all walks of life with different skillsets, and it has taught me that everyone has a place to help support new emerging technologies.
In this blog I will share my thoughts on the most transferable skills that can be applied to a career in alternative protein. It is really aimed at those who want to get into the industry but may not realise what skills they can capitalise on to get in.
The alternative protein industry
The alternative protein industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by a range of factors including environmental concerns, health considerations, and ethical considerations. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of traditional animal agriculture, particularly factory farming, on the planet and their own health. We are now seeing the alternative protein industry evolving rapidly, creating the perfect storm of new opportunities for people with the right skills and expertise and a drive to improve our food production systems.
Alternative protein (or alt protein for short) encapsulates animal-free protein that aims to replace proteins traditionally found in meat, eggs, seafood and dairy at a quality and price parity. In most cases, the purpose of developing technologies to replace these animal-derived proteins is to reduce the environmental side effects of animal agriculture, presenting consumers with a ‘greener’ and more ethical product.
Alternative proteins generally fall under 3 main categories:
Plant-based protein
Microbial fermentation-derived protein
Cell-based (cultivated) protein
Plant-based protein
Some plant-based protein brands you may be familiar with include Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, Just Egg and more. This technology pulls protein from various plant-based sources like peas, chickpeas, soy, gluten, various beans and grains to mimic common consumer products like ground beef, eggs and supplements like protein powders.
Microbial fermentation-derived protein
Within the microbial fermentation-derived protein space, the market is led by Quorn who produce mycoprotein by growing mycelium, the ‘root’ of mushrooms, to produce meat-like products. Other companies like Aqua Cultured Foods are using similar technology to produce fermentation-derived seafood products. On top of using fermentation to produce meat and seafood alternatives, precision fermentation is being utilised to produce specific proteins like casein (the protein that makes cheese stretchy) and beta-lactoglobulin (whey protein found in dairy). This involved using genetic engineering to add the instructions for the selected protein into a bacteria or yeast population and allow the microbes to produce the protein of choice.
Cell-based (cultivated) protein
Cultivated meat technology has advanced to allow meat to be produced without the need for animals to be farmed. This form of cellular farming has been pioneered by companies and research groups around the world, with only one regulated product for sale in Singapore, Good Meat. In the coming years we anticipate to see many more products hit the market, and in the meantime there is a lot of research and development to be done, aiming at addressing scale and cost.
A career in alt protein
The potential career opportunities within the alternative protein space are vast and there are many key skills that are sought after. The industry needs talent to fill executive, leadership, talent acquisition, engineering, scientific, operations, food technology, procurement and regulatory roles… to name a few.
Here are the top 5 transferable skills that are highly sought after from those wanting to transition into the alternative protein industry.
Scientific Literacy, Research and Analysis skills
Having a solid understanding of biotechnology and food science principles will set you up for success in this science-driven industry. If you are more inclined towards a technical role and you want hands-on experience, you will want to showcase your ability to understand scientific processes and be able to digest, analyse and communicate scientific results.
These skills can be applied in plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated protein development, as they are universally ranked of high importance when companies are hiring their technical team.
You can demonstrate your scientific literacy, research and analysis skills by pointing to examples of research that you’ve published, any scientific training you’ve received and projects where you’ve used data analysis to problem solve. Being able to discuss the problem, your methods, the results and your communication of the results in an interview will make you a highly sought-after candidate.
Bioinformatics & Data Analysis Skills
The alternative protein industry requires extensive data analysis to identify market opportunities, optimise the production process, and track consumer trends. A background in bioinformatics or data analysis can be highly useful in this industry. Candidates with these skills are sought after for roles in computational protein design, predictive modelling, machine learning and data analysis.
Demonstrating proficiency in bioinformatics and data analysis can be done through academic or industry projects, as well as highlighting relevant coursework and certifications. Being able to speak to these experiences and how they can be applied to the alternative protein industry will make you an attractive candidate.
Software Engineering Skills
As with most industries in this technological age, software engineering skills are highly sought after in the alternative protein space. In particular, skills in software development and automation will be increasingly important as the industry continues to grow and become more sophisticated.
To showcase these skills, you can highlight past software projects you’ve worked on, any relevant coursework or certifications you’ve completed, and your ability to work with programming languages like Python, R, SQL, or Java. Additionally, being able to discuss how you would apply these skills to the alternative protein industry will demonstrate your expertise and creativity. If you can point to examples of how your coding experience has led to a reduction in expenditure, increased throughput, increased accuracy or automated processes leading to a reduction in time needed to be spent on a specific task, let your interviewer be aware and showcase these prime examples of how your work can help.
Project Management Skills
As the alternative protein industry continues to grow, there will be an increasing need for project management skills. This includes being able to manage budgets, timelines, and resources effectively, as well as being able to identify and mitigate risks. Project management skills are also important for coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal. This could be the most transferable skill as you could come from any industry and apply your skills to any aspect of alternative protein with great success and reward.
Leadership Skills
Problems can be hard to tackle. Showing examples of where you have been a leader will make you an attractive candidate for any role in alt protein, as we all know that there are many challenges to be faced and we need solid leadership to be able to work through those challenges.
Leadership skills are highly valued in the alternative protein industry. Strong leadership is necessary to guide teams towards success and navigate challenges. In particular, the ability to inspire and motivate others is crucial in this rapidly evolving industry. Leaders in the alt protein industry must be able to stay focused on the goal of producing sustainable and ethical food products while also being adaptable and open to new ideas and technologies. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are important for building strong relationships with team members and stakeholders, which any leader will possess.
In addition to the technical skills mentioned above, there are also key mindsets that are highly valued in the alternative protein industry. One of these is having an entrepreneurial mindset. Being able to identify market opportunities and understand what consumers crave is essential to success in the industry. Another important mindset is the willingness to embrace new technologies and methodologies, as the industry is constantly evolving. Adaptability and continuous learning are also highly valued, as staying updated on industry trends will keep you at the forefront of innovation.
Mindsets that will propel you forward:
Entrepreneurial mindset
Creative thinking to develop new products and solutions
Working with diverse teams (scientists, engineers, operations, marketing, finance, executives)
Willingness to embrace new technologies and methodologies
Staying updated with industry trends and advancements
Trainability, adaptability and a drive towards continuous learning
Effective communication and interpersonal skills
How to showcase your skills on resumes and in interviews
Start by identifying the skills that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Make sure to include examples of how you've demonstrated these skills in your previous work or education, such as research projects, technical tasks, projects you’ve managed or leadership roles. Use descriptive verbs to outline your accomplishments and highlight your achievements including the impact you made in each of these areas. Additionally, tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for, emphasising the skills and experiences that are most relevant to that position. In interviews, be prepared to discuss your transferable skills in more detail, providing specific examples of how you've used them in the past and how they relate to the job you're applying for.
Not quite there yet?
If you feel like you might have traction to gain before you can promote these skills in interviews, look for educational and training programs, attend industry events, and consider internships or volunteering to gain hands-on experience. Alternative proteins will be around for a while so if your end goal is to get into the industry, leverage your current role to gain experience any of these transferable skills to set yourself up for success in the years to come. Regardless of where you’re at right now in your career, there is an opportunity in building sustainable food systems together for everyone.
If you want alt protein to be a part of your career journey, it’s never too late to transition
Transferable skills are crucial in the alt protein industry as the field is evolving rapidly, and having adaptable skills becomes a game-changer for long-term career growth. My top 5 transferable skills for a career in alternative protein are scientific literacy, research and analysis skills, bioinformatics and data analysis skills, software engineering skills, project management skills, and leadership skills.
The alternative protein industry is growing rapidly and offers exciting career opportunities for people with the right skills and expertise. To succeed in this booming industry, it's crucial to cultivate transferable skills that you can then apply to building sustainable food systems. With an entrepreneurial mindset, creative thinking, and effective communication skills, you can make a real impact in this fast-paced industry. Embrace change, stay curious, and cultivate your transferable skills to unlock your potential and create a sustainable future!
As a call-to-action, I encourage all of my readers to reflect on their careers and realise how your skills can be applied to alternative protein production and developing more sustainable food systems for now and the future.
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