UNITED KINGDOM

Project: Innovate UK – Better Food for All 

Duration: September 2023 – October 2025 

STARS is collaborating with the University of Leeds on Innovate UK’s Better Food for All project, which began in September 2023 and will run through to the end of October 2025. 

The focus of the project is to create a next-generation plant-based burger using whole food ingredients, with the aim of improving nutrition, affordability, and performance, while also helping to diversify and future-proof supply chains. 

Progress so far: 
The goal was to develop a strong Version 1 burger that would be ready for the addition of an innovative plant-based fat currently being developed in Canada. We’ve made incredible progress – the burger has already gone through taste testing, with extremely positive feedback across flavour, texture and overall quality. 

CANADA

Project: Innovate UK x Protein Industries Canada – Canada–UK: Plant-based Protein Innovation  

Duration: September 2024 – February 2025  

STARS is also working alongside Lovingly Made Ingredients, Botaneco and the University of Leeds on a 12-month transatlantic project focused on creating a new type of plant-based fat to replace tropical oils in current food formulations. 

Derived from sunflower seeds, the fat is being designed to improve the juiciness, flavour and mouthfeel of our STARS burger – helping it better replicate the sensory experience of eating beef, but without the environmental impact. 

Outcome: 
A functional, plant-based fat that mimics beef fat – created specifically for use in our next-generation plant-based burger.