TO BE PUBLISHED March 2027
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This conference will examine next steps for food innovation in the UK, in light of advances in precision fermentation, cell-cultivated products and other emerging food technologies, and recent FSA and FSS work on safety assessment and market authorisation.
Areas for discussion include applying new scientific guidance to authorisation decisions, implications of developing UK-EU SPS arrangements for GB approval routes, the investment and manufacturing capacity needed for commercial scale-up, prospects for adoption by the food industry, the use of AI in food manufacturing and safety assurance, and evidence on consumer acceptance and wider food-system impacts.
Regulatory preparedness & authorisation priorities
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities following the FSA and FSS's assessment of emerging food technologies likely to require regulatory preparation over the coming decade.
Delegates will consider findings from the Market Authorisation Innovation Research Programme on safety evidence and application requirements for precision fermentation, alongside progress under the Cell-Cultivated Products Sandbox in clarifying assessment, production and hygiene requirements. The conference will assess priorities for applying this work in regulatory practice, including clarity and consistency in evidence requirements, support for businesses preparing applications and the specialist capacity needed to assess novel products.
The relationship with the National Vision for Engineering Biology's priorities for infrastructure, skills and industrial adoption will also be considered, particularly in relation to the requirements for progressing from research to commercial production.
Commercialisation, scale-up & investment
The planned agenda will examine the route from research and validation to regulatory approval, food-grade manufacture and commercial deployment. Attendees will consider the extent to which early engagement with regulators, innovation centres and research partnerships can reduce uncertainty and support more efficient progression to market. Discussion will also assess the finance, infrastructure and specialist capability required to scale emerging technologies and support adoption by established food manufacturers, including the transition from successful demonstration to commercial deployment.
Market conditions, assurance & digital systems
Further discussion will focus on the regulatory and market conditions needed to support innovation while maintaining public confidence. Delegates will consider approaches to authorisation, assurance, consumer communication and market acceptance, together with the evidence needed to substantiate claims about nutrition, sustainability and resilience. Sessions will also examine how AI-enabled analysis and production data might support process control, quality assurance and regulatory assessment.
Future regulation & international alignment
Wider discussion will consider the future regulatory approach for innovative foods, including the potential implications of the developing UK-EU SPS agreement for existing GB authorisations, future approval pathways and the treatment of precision-bred products, alongside international alignment and competitiveness in global markets.
Overview of areas for discussion
- food innovation strategy, food security & public value:
- priorities from the National Vision for Engineering Biology and wider food strategy - coordination across policy and investment frameworks
- food security and domestic capability - affordability, health and sustainable production
- regulation, evidence & market access:
- horizon scanning and regulatory preparedness - FSA/FSS Thematic report on emerging food innovations in the UK and Top Emerging UK Food Innovations: 2025-2035
- regulatory support - evidence and dossier requirements - Cell-Cultivated Products Sandbox - Innovative Food Guidance Hub
- authorisation and assurance - clarity, timeliness and proportionality - precision bred food and feed - post-market oversight
- commercialisation, investment & demand:
- progression from research and validation to market deployment - procurement, offtake and collaboration across the food sector
- late-stage and first-of-a-kind finance - risk-sharing, investment readiness and access to scale-up capital for start-ups and established manufacturers
- manufacturing capability, infrastructure & skills:
- food-grade scale-up and testing - energy, water, feedstocks and site requirements - use of waste and by-products
- specialist capability - food engineering, bioprocessing, regulatory science, quality assurance and digital operations
- emerging technologies, consumers & food-system impacts:
- fermentation technologies, cell-cultivated products, precision-bred crops, controlled environment agriculture and structured fats - longer-term food and ingredient innovations
- market and system implications - naming, labelling and claims - consumer confidence - impacts on existing production and supply chains
- digital transformation, international alignment & UK competitiveness:
- AI, automation and data across production, assurance and regulatory assessment - data quality, interoperability, cybersecurity, governance and skills
- international positioning - regulatory coherence - implications of developing UK-EU SPS arrangements - standards, evidence portability, trade and investment
