December 2024
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This conference examined next steps for novel foods and alternative proteins - looking at the latest sector developments, and the outlook for regulation and policy in the UK.
It was an opportunity for stakeholders, regulators and policymakers to discuss priorities for the new Government, and implications for novel foods and the wider UK agri-food sector.
Delegates examined the regulatory approach going forward, with plans set out by the FSA to speed up the approval process of regulated novel food products, including introducing a proposed sliding scale based on an assessment of international approvals.
Practicalities for implementation were considered, looking at alignment with EU and international regulation, and implications of new regulatory processes on trade -alongside issues around cross-border regulatory divergence, reducing red tape and priorities for safety assurance of products being approved.
Delegates discussed priorities for investment, as well as opportunities for innovation in the agri-food sector, following the £20.4bn allocated to DSIT in the Budget to boost UK R&D, including engineering biology scale up. We expected discussion on strategic pathways for achieving the aim of making the UK a world leader in the alternative protein industry, in light of the FSA launching a new sandbox programme to evaluate the safety for cell-cultivated products, as well as the launch of the new Regulatory Innovation Office to accelerate public access to new technologies.
Attendees also considered opportunities for the sector in the context of the Government’s wider policy agenda, including the potential role of novel foods and alternative proteins in food security. It came with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology recently highlighting opportunities to utilise alternative protein sources to tackle climate change challenges, improve national health and address concerns around animal welfare.
There was also a focus on strategies for encouraging consumer uptake of new protein sources, including mitigating concerns around the cost, safety and taste of new products, as well as public messaging on environmental and health benefits of alternative protein sources.
With plans from the Government to invest £15m into a National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre, sessions discussed next steps for the UK’s research strategy, with the PM signalling the intention of addressing red tape that could hamper innovation and market growth, as well as priorities for R&D, and supporting new product development and commercialisation.
Further discussion examined the use of data to determine how standards in food safety and quality can be better measured and differentiated, as well as how these metrics can be applied accurately across the novel foods sector. It followed concerns raised by some stakeholders over whether measures for novel food safety can effectively communicate product transparency and encourage consumer acceptance.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Ivan Boemer, Solicitor, Legal Directorate, The Scottish Government; Prof Robin May, Chief Scientific Adviser, FSA; Evangelos Katsoulis, Policy Advisor, FSS; Linus Pardoe, Senior UK Policy Manager, Good Food Institute Europe; Dr Kristi Muldoon Jacobs, Director, Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation, FDA; Professor Monique Raats, Co-Director, Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey; and Melody Violton, Senior Associate, CPT Capital.
All delegates were able to contribute, alongside key policy officials, to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from CCC; DAERA, NI; Defra; DoH, NI; FSA; FSS; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
