NFX UK was established with a shared vision of a greener, healthier and more resilient food system.
Today, we are proud to publish our Impact Report — a full account of what we have built, what we have achieved and where we are going next.
A Response to a Global Challenge
Global food systems face three interlinked crises — unsustainable food production, unhealthy diets and deepening food insecurity. Novel Foods represent one of the most credible near-term responses, with the alternative proteins market alone projected to reach $290 billion globally by 2035. Yet despite this potential, regulatory complexity continues to prevent these innovations from reaching consumers at pace and scale.
The UK has the science, the talent and the ambition to lead this transition. However, realising that potential requires focused collaboration within the ecosystem – between industry, regulators and experts. NFX UK is making this happen.
What we have built
The Novel Foods Expert Network (NFX UK) was established in 2025, supported by £0.5 million from Innovate UK and delivered through a strategic partnership between Reading Scientific Services Ltd. (RSSL), Imperial College London’s Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins and Pfeifer & Langen UK.
In just 15 months, NFX UK has grown from concept to a nationally recognised platform — connecting 260+ stakeholders and delivering impact across three core pillars.
Our impact at a glance
Pillar 1: End-to-End Ecosystem
- Connected stakeholders across industry, academia and regulators
- Delivered our Launch Conference convening 170 sector leaders
- Created foundations for targeted collaborations in a previously fragmented sector
Pillar 2: Regulatory Engagement
- Established a trusted partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
- Facilitated two-way dialogue between regulators and industry, with growing influence in policy discussions
- Contributed to the development of evidence-based and future-ready regulatory frameworks for a rapidly evolving sector
Pillar 3: Knowledge Exchange
- Built a central virtual hub for open-access, expertly curated resources
- Provided innovators direct access to multidisciplinary experts to help navigate the complex regulatory journey
- Designed an interactive Novel Foods Roadmap to equip businesses with essential understanding
Looking ahead
Our ambition is to scale NFX UK over the next three years with additional investment – deepening our impact in the UK and expanding the model internationally.
NFX UK is not just responding to system challenges. It is helping to redesign the system for the future.
