US Army Considers Alternative Protein For Warfighters To Reduce Logistical Burdens
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The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) released a “sources sought announcement” to identify potential alternative protein sources that are lightweight, nutritionally dense, and shelf-stable. The notice clarifies that this is not a solicitation or a request for proposals, and that it does not indicate there will be a request in the future. The notice also states that for the purposes of this request, “we are specifically excluding solutions related to cell-cultured, lab-grown meat or insect protein.”
This notice applies to warfighters in combat zones and is intended to create reliable supply chains during combat rather than serve as a replacement for meat across the board in the US Army. Traditional meat requires temperature-sensitive supply chains, which are vulnerable to strikes from the opposition.
The Army is looking for “advanced technologies and processes, involved in fermentation, precision fermentation, or other novel biomanufacturing methods, that enhance the production of alternative proteins.” The SSA further states, “These technologies should focus on creating lightweight and nutrient-dense ration solutions to reduce logistical burdens and physical load on warfighters while maintaining or enhancing nutritional value and operational performance.”
The notice calls for four specific areas for information. The first refers to innovative technologies to reduce soldier load that “enhance the production of alternative proteins.” This point is focused on reducing logistical burdens while “maintaining or enhancing nutritional value and operational performance.”
The second refers to “The development of innovative meat-alternative products specifically designed for inclusion in military rations, meeting stringent requirements for nutrition, shelf stability, and palatability.” The third calls for comprehensive consumer research to “enhance the acceptability and consumption of alternative proteins within a military population.”
The fourth area is to identify food samples that have “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) status that can be utilized for the manufacturing of alternative proteins. The notice asks for prototypes that will be consumed by a government panel of experts to evaluate “sensory acceptability” and “other performance characteristics.”
The HighWire has reported about various alternative proteins, including ultra-processed plant-based proteins and lab-grown cultivated meats. The Army is attempting to tackle a logistical and supply chain issue while also finding a solution that is palatable and acceptable to service members serving on the front lines.
The Army is currently avoiding information on technologies related to insect protein and lab-grown meat. The notice doesn’t explain why they are excluding these technologies “for the purposes of this RFI.” Lab-grown or cultivated meats have proven to be more energy-intensive and still face an uphill battle of acceptance from consumers. A 2021 survey found that about one-third of Americans are willing to consume food with cricket powder, about half as many as those willing to consume raw oysters.
The notice emphasizes that the Army is not absolutely going to move forward with alternative proteins for warfighters unless it receives information on appropriate and sufficient technologies. There is a focus on providing adequate or improved nutrition and a product that is palatable to service members on the front lines.
All proposals should have GRAS status or an understood pathway to achieving it. In February, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that his agency is working to close the GRAS loophole, which he said was exploited to add thousands of new ingredients to the food supply. Kennedy explained that while Europe has only 400 legal food ingredients, the US has between 4,000 and 10,000, due to the GRAS classification.
While Secretary Kennedy is actively working to close that loophole, it will not remove the thousands of existing ingredients on this list. There is a pathway for removal from GRAS, but it requires a lengthy review process from the FDA. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) was flagged as a top priority for review by the FDA, but still remains under GRAS status.
When excluding insect protein and lab-cultivated protein, the products in the alternative protein industry can typically be classified as ultra-processed foods (UPF). Secretary Kennedy has linked the increased consumption of UPFs to the obesity and chronic disease epidemics.
A 2025 review explains that fermented plant-based alternative proteins pose the same hazards as plant-based raw materials, with additional hazards from production and storage processes. Specifically, the authors state “chemical and microbiological hazards are presented, including natural hazards, environmental hazards, and hazards derived from (inadequate) food processing.”
The Army is considering utilizing new technologies if it can find innovative solutions that provide adequate nutrition and include ingredients that are “generally recognized as safe.” The Army is accepting submissions until May 15.