Ep. 10 - Luke Spajic (Policy & Plenitude Project Coordinator at ENOUGH)
Aug 4, 2022
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Luke Spajic, Plenitude Project Coordinator at ENOUGH, shares his experiences promoting healthy and sustainable diets, working with the UN, and his involvement in the alternative protein sector. They discuss the unique process of growing mycelium and the importance of government support for the field. The chapter also highlights ENOUGH's current hiring spree and the encouragement to pursue alternative proteins and policy work.
Luke Spajic highlights the importance of government support for the alternative protein industry to scale up production, meet demand, and build public trust.
Luke Spajic advises thinking broadly and collaborating with people of interest in the alternative protein industry.
Deep dives
Luke's Inspiration: Working on Food and Alternative Proteins
Luke's interest in working on food and alternative proteins stemmed from his medical studies and a trip to the Amazon rainforest. He became concerned about the impact of agriculture, particularly livestock, on the environment. This led him to focus on food as a way to address climate change and sustainability. Luke initially started a startup competition for homemade plant-based food, but soon realized the need for broader options. This led him to discover alternative proteins as a solution to cater to a wider market.
Luke's Journey to Enough: COP26 and Policy Work
Luke's path to enough began when he met the CEO, Jim Leard, at COP26. Luke had been involved in research and policy work in the food sector, including the UN Food System Summit. He was driven by the need to address sustainable diets and the political challenges faced in implementing policy actions. Luke's role as a policy and plantitude project coordinator at enough involves coordinating grant deliverables, IP protection, and dissemination. He also focuses on getting government support for alternative proteins through policy advocacy.
The Importance of Government Support for Alternative Proteins
Luke emphasizes the importance of government support for the alternative protein industry. He highlights the need for funding and infrastructure to scale up production and meet demand projections. Government support can also provide legitimacy and build public trust in the industry. Luke cites the energy transition as a precedent, where government funding and policies played a crucial role in the success of renewable energy. He stresses the significance of an even playing field between animal source foods and alternative proteins, ensuring fair competition and removing disadvantages for alternative proteins.
Luke Spajic is a Plenitude Project Coordinator at ENOUGH, a mycoprotein company, where he also leads ENOUGH's policy work. He was a member of the UN Food Systems Summit sustainable consumption leadership team, has worked as a Consultant at the UN World Food Programme, and has led multiple campaigns to elevate healthy and sustainable diets at COP26 and other global forums. Luke has been published in Nature Food, The BMJ, and The Lancet Planetary Health. He also led an open letter campaign which saw World Wildlife Fund and UN Nutrition endorse a letter which included support for alternative proteins. The advice Luke offers in this episode is to think broadly and to reach out to people who interest you as this is a very collaborative and inviting industry.