# BfR (Germany)

Alternative-protein health risk assessment — Feeds national biotech4proteins innovation-hub funding.

Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/companies/bfr-germany/
Updated: 2026-07-05

- Country: Germany

## Verifiable facts

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Affiliation | Scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL/BMLEH) | https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/, https://www.harmless-project.eu/partners/bfr/ |
| Research focus | Health risk assessment of alternative protein sources (insects, algae, lupins, lab-grown meat), including allergenicity, microbiological risks, and contaminants | https://www.bfr.bund.de/assets/01_Ver%C3%B6ffentlichungen/FAQ_englisch/lupins-insects-or-lab-grown-meat_what-is-the-current-state-of-health-risk-assessment-for-alternative-protein-sources.pdf, https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/, https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/unit-novel-foods-food-additives-flavourings/ |
| Facility | Modern experimental infrastructure including instrumental analysis, microbial diagnostics, toxicology and food technology labs, an animal husbandry farm, aquaculture facility, and molecular/cell biology labs | https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/research/research-funding/research-agenda/ |
| Grant | BfR budget of 163 million euros, with 9 million euros in third-party funding (2025) | https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/our-institute/facts-figures/ |
| Publications | Scientific opinions and assessments published via the Open Agrar server and other channels | https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/, https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/unit-novel-foods-food-additives-flavourings/ |
| Principal staff | President Professor Dr Dr Dr h.c. Andreas Hensel, PD Dr. Karen Ildico Hirsch-Ernst (Head of Unit Novel Foods), PD Dr. Robert Pieper (Head of Department Food and Feed Safety in the Food Chain) | https://www.bfr.bund.de/assets/01_Ver%C3%B6ffentlichungen/01_sonstige_Dokumente/Organigramm/260401-organisation-chart.pdf, https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/, https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/bfr-structure/department-food-and-feed-safety-in-the-food-chain/unit-novel-foods-food-additives-flavourings/ |
| Headcount | 1,237 employees (including 566 scientists, 43 PhD candidates, and 26 apprentices/trainees) as of 2025 | https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/about-us/our-institute/facts-figures/ |

Independent sources: bfr.bund.de, harmless-project.eu

## Technologies

- [Regulatory sandboxes for biotech](https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/regulatory-sandboxes-biotech/)