Accelerating the future of Novel Foods in the UK
Included in this edition:
- NFX UK Launch Conference: Novel Foods take centre stage
- Key Takeaways from the Conference
- FSA Regulatory progress and innovation support
- Policy collaboration: Cross group meeting
- On the move: Upcoming events
- The NFX UK Community: Growing rapidly!
- Meet the NFX UK Team
- About Us
- Join Our Community
NFX UK Launch Conference: Novel Foods take centre stage
On 10 September, NFX UK officially launched at the Royal Society in London, marking a key milestone for the UK’s Novel Foods landscape. Despite train strikes and torrential rain, nearly 200 innovators, researchers, regulators and investors joined us to celebrate our launch. Speakers also included the following government representatives: Mike Reader MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group Food and Drink), Lord Willetts (Chair of Regulatory Innovation Office, RIO).
The day was packed with energy and showcased:
- 33 high-calibre speakers tackling critical topics from regulatory bottlenecks to the realities of scaling novel food technologies
- 10 pioneering companies exhibited across agri-tech, biotech, food safety and R&D
- 70+ diverse organisations, from start-ups to government bodies
- Lively networking spaces sparking new connections and reinforcing the collective appetite for progress
The feedback praised the diversity of speakers, openness of conversations and the sense of momentum building across the Novel Foods ecosystem:
‘NFX UK has done amazing and structured work to build the novel food community in and outside the UK. I really want to start to use the help of all experts that I can reach through platform.’
‘NFX UK and the launch conference is a great initiative that will support innovative companies to bring their products on the market.’
‘It was a fantastic day and congratulations to the whole organisation team for delivering such a great event.’
‘Very impressed, optimistic and supportive for this new network to help progress the novel foods sector.’
Key Takeaways from the NFX UK Conference
Our sessions sparked essential and energised discussions, surfacing critical insights that will shape the future of the UK’s Novel Foods ecosystem, with the below as key takeaways:
Regulatory focus
There is a strong push to streamline regulations and ensure the UK becomes a global leader in Novel Foods. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) aims to halve the regulatory process for all specialist novel foods, and it was noted how shifting towards simultaneous regulatory steps could save time and improve efficiency.
Funding and collaboration
Increasing funding channelled towards regulatory initiatives and bodies is seen as a priority. Key examples of the FSA’s Cell Cultivated Products (CCP) sandbox and Innovation Research Programme (IRP) were spotlighted as key examples of momentum building in the sector. Collaboration between government, regulators and industry innovators is vital for transparency, public trust and safety.
Small and medium sized enterprise support
Supporting SME’s and enabling smarter regulations (benchmarking against international standards) are crucial for driving innovation. A major challenge is the lack of affordable food-grade facilities available for scaling up production in the UK which could lead to businesses relocating outside of the United Kingdom.
Early strategy planning to navigate the regulatory maze
Companies need to prioritise market authorisation early, allocate resources to build a robust regulatory roadmap and seek expert advice from the outset. Addressing the challenges of expensive testing, insufficient sample availability for testing and finding accredited labs is essential.
These insights are shaping NFX UK’s strategy, guiding how we support innovators and engage with policymakers to build a stronger, more connected ecosystem.
FSA regulatory progress and innovation support
Market Authorisation Innovation Research Programme (IRP)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), has officially launched the Market Authorisation Innovation Research Programme (IRP), a forward-looking initiative designed to strengthen regulatory readiness for emerging food technologies. The NFX UK team was pleased to attend the launch event at Imperial College London, alongside leading stakeholders from across the Novel Foods space.
The IRP is designed to enhance the regulators’ capabilities and specialist expertise in regulating emerging and innovating food technologies, with an emphasis on precision fermentation.
The IRP includes:
- A guidance hub – A centralised, one-stop resource for advice on the regulation of innovative food technologies including precision fermentation, cell-cultivated products, edible insects and more. Additional specialist guidance will be added in the coming months.
- A Business Support Service (BSS) pilot – This pilot provides pre- and post-application support from regulatory experts, helping applicants prepare higher-quality dossiers and better navigate the approval process. The aim is to deepen the FSA and FSS’s understanding of its regulatory processes through direct engagement with applicants, enabling continuous improvement.
The FSA plans to publish guidance and research outputs to further inform the industry in due course. Read more on FSA’s website.
Other FSA updates
The FSA is gearing up to release a suite of guidance documents vital to the Novel Food sector. Keep an eye out for updates covering key areas such as:
– Taste Trials
– Allergenicity
– Nutrition
– Meat and Products of Animal Origins (HACCP)
Finally, the FSA will be fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing by hosting Innovation Roundtables. They are also planning to release webinars to further explain the sandbox learnings and guidance.
Keen to stay in the know?
Sign-up to join our NFX Community and follow our NFX UK LinkedIn page to see the latest FSA updates. Want the latest developments and insights delivered straight to your inbox?
Policy collaboration: Cross-group policy meeting
We recently facilitated a Cross-group policy meeting, hosted by the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins and the Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London’s White City campus.
This meeting brought together key stakeholders from NFX UK, The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), Alternative Proteins Association (APA), The Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe, Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins and the Microbial Food Hub to discuss policy-related developments and priorities in the Novel Foods sector.
The day’s agenda resulted in the following:
- A thorough exploration of each group’s policy-related objectives, activities, and priorities, with a focus on shared areas
- Identification of the key policy challenges facing the sector, coupled with a mapping of potential opportunities for synergistic collaboration between the groups.
- The development of a joint knowledge exchange action plan, designed to facilitate a broader and more effective collective response to the identified policy challenges
The meeting marked a major step in aligning efforts and ensuring a unified approach to navigating the evolving Novel Foods landscape. Stay tuned: We will be sharing more updates and outcomes in upcoming newsletters.
NFX UK on the move
We have been everywhere this month, from the CARMA Conference to the NAPIC Inaugural Conference, to Future Food-Tech London! We have been connecting with the community, sharing the NFX UK mission and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
Where to meet us next
- IFST Autumn Conference | Nottingham: 7th October
- EIT Next Bite | Brussels: 15th-16th October
- Biomass BioRefinery Network Annual Conference | Sheffield: 15th-17th October
- Future of Protein Production | Amsterdam: 29th & 30th October
- Regulating the Future of Food Conference | Amsterdam: 29th & 30th October
- CARMA Meet the Expert Session | Online: 17th November
- Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum: Next steps for novel foods in the UK | Online: 27th November
We would love to hear about your work, share what we are building and explore how we can support each other. If you are attending any of the above events, feel free to reach out to schedule a meeting with the NFX UK Team.
The NFX UK community: Growing rapidly!
With 250+ engaged professionals and 50+ experts now featured in our growing directory, we are proud to be building a thriving, collaborative network driving innovation in the Novel Foods space. Over the past few months, we have been busy laying the groundwork for long-term impact:
- Launching the Knowledge Hub on our website
- Hosting our launch conference
- Engaging key regulators including FSA, FSS and DEFRA
- Building a vibrant digital presence to make information and resources easily accessible
- Attending key events and conferences to network within the industry
With a strong foundation in place, we are excited to continue building our network and supporting innovation with lots more exciting initiatives on the horizon.
What’s new? The Knowledge Hub is live!
We are thrilled to launch Phase II of our website, featuring the all-new Knowledge Hub! Visit: www.nfxuk.co.uk and sign-up for FREE to gain access to exclusive tools and resources.
Members get exclusive access to:
- Our Novel Food Roadmap
- An Extensive Resource Library
- The Members and Experts Directory
- The Members Forum
- A Comprehensive FAQ Section
Explore these tools to enhance your knowledge and stay informed about the latest developments in our field.
We are already working on Phase III, with even more value and functionality coming soon – watch this space!
Meet the NFX UK Team
The NFX UK Team is comprised of experienced professionals enthusiastic about fostering innovation and collaboration within the Novel Food Sector. Get to know our team members and their expertise by visiting the “About Us” section on our website.
About NFX UK
The NFX UK is the UK’s first Novel Foods Expert Network for Regulatory Challenges focused on helping innovative novel food solutions get to market faster. Covering technologies from cultivated meat, precision fermentation products, alternative proteins, and algae-based foods.
Our mission is to create a dynamic, collaborative Novel Foods community that provides resources and expertise for bringing innovative products to market efficiently and responsibly.
NFX UK is led by Reading Scientific Services Limited (RSSL) and developed in partnership with Imperial College London and The Supplant Company.
Our Partner Ecosystem
NFX UK is supported by a diverse ecosystem of key organisations, all working collectively to drive change and create a more sustainable future for the food industry.
Join our community
Sign up for exclusive access to the NFX UK Knowledge Hub.
Join our Novel Foods Network today for free and get insider information regulation, industry knowledge and access to the experts. Becoming a member is easy, all you need to do is fill out the form. If you have any questions, visit our FAQs page or Contact Us.
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