E21: "This is the Biggest Regulatory Challenge of Cultivated Meat in the EU" - Alternative Protein Regulatory Specialist, Hannah Lester

As a 4-year-old child, the regulatory space is not typically a career field one would easily mention wanting to work in later in life. However, it holds particular importance, especially within the food industry.



One of the 'novel' foods currently receiving significant attention is cultivated/lab-grown/synthetic meat.



Italy and Romania are already seeking to ban this product from their markets even before its approval, while countries like Singapore and the USA allow consumers to eat cultivated meat.

This raises the question: Why isn't it approved in the EU yet and how far are we? 

With Hannah Lester, we explored this and other topics concerning cultivated meat, worldwide regulatory space, and leadership.


For those working with novel foods, in regulatory leadership roles, or simply interested in the regulatory aspects of the next generation of meat production, this conversation is filled with powerful insights.

Topics discussed:

• How she ended up in the regulatory space
• Her career journey, transitioning from traditional farming to a regulatory position
• Why cultured meat is considered the future
• How can traditional farming and cultivated meat farming coexist?
• How do we challenge different beliefs and cultural perspectives on alternative proteins, and how can companies approach this challenge?
• Debunking myths surrounding lab-grown meat
• Regulatory experience and challenges within the protein alternative space
• How does the regulatory process actually work within the EU?
• Why is Singapore at the forefront of cultivated meat, and what are the differences compared to the EU?
• Key areas that remain unclear for applicants and how they should approach these issues
• What impact did the approval of cultivated meat in the USA have on regulation approval in the EU?
• Setbacks resulting from not sharing the public-facing dossier with the outside world
• Influences of the meat industry in the process of bringing cultivated meat to the market
• What do we need to do to streamline the regulatory process in the EU?
• The importance of collaborations among industries and organisations from different fields
• Her biggest challenges within the regulatory field
• Leadership lessons she learned from her career
• How do you handle numerous setbacks and stressful times within the regulatory space?
• Her advice to other leaders in the regulatory field

And much more..

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😊 the guest: Hannah Lester

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