logo
Lab-grown food could be sold in the UK within two years

Lab-grown food could be sold in the UK within two years

Yahoo10-03-2025

Lab-grown food could be sold in the UK within two years, a watchdog has indicated.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it was committed to completing the full safety assessment of two cell-cultivated products (CCPs) within the next two years.
The watchdog has launched a 'pioneering' regulatory programme for CCPs to make sure they are safe for consumers before they are sold, funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology's Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund.
CCPs are new food products made without traditional farming methods such as rearing livestock or growing plants and grains.
Instead, cells from plants or animals are grown in a controlled environment to make the product.
There are currently no CCPs approved for human consumption in the UK.
FSA chief scientific adviser Professor Robin May said: 'Safe innovation is at the heart of this programme.
'By prioritising consumer safety and making sure new foods, like CCPs, are safe we can support growth in innovative sectors.
'Our aim is to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of new food, while maintaining the highest safety standards.'
A team of scientists and regulatory experts will work with academic bodies, the CCP industry and trade organisations on the two-year programme.
Science minister Lord Vallance said: 'By supporting the safe development of cell-cultivated products, we're giving businesses the confidence to innovate and accelerating the UK's position as a global leader in sustainable food production.
'This work will not only help bring new products to market faster, but strengthen consumer trust, supporting our Plan for Change and creating new economic opportunities across the country.'
The businesses participating in the programme are Hoxton Farms, Roslin Technologies and Uncommon Bio, all from the UK, BlueNalu (US), Mosa Meat (the Netherlands), Gourmey and Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).
Hoxton Farms was launched in 2020 by Ed Steele and Max Jamilly, and has been pioneering technology to grow animal fat products that 'look, cook and taste like the real thing'.
Roslin Technologies was launched two years later as a biotech company to produce lab-grown pet food.
In February, a dog treat made from cultivated meat went on sale at Pets at Home in a move the retailer claimed was a world first.
In July last year, the UK became the first country in Europe to back cultivated meat for use in pet food, after chicken produced by the firm Meatly was approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
The treat, called Chick Bites, is made from plant-based ingredients combined with cultivated meat, which is produced by growing cells and does not require the raising or slaughter of animals.
Meatly said the chicken was produced from a single sample of cells taken from one chicken egg, from which enough cultivated meat could be produced to feed pets 'forever'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures
Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures

Rachel Reeves has announced a £6 billion investment to speed up tests and treatment within the NHS, after setting out huge year-on-year rises in the health service's budget. New scanners, ambulances and urgent treatment centres are among the things which the additional cash will pay for, with the aim of providing up to four million more tests and procedures over the next five years. The announcement comes after the Chancellor put NHS funding at the heart of her spending review on Wednesday, raising its budget in a move worth £29 billion a year. This comes, however, at the expense of other areas of public spending. The new £6 billion funding will help to meet the Government's target of reducing NHS waiting lists in England, the Chancellor claimed. 'Over a decade of underinvestment from the previous government put the NHS on its knees, with people across the country unable to get the care they need. We are investing in Britain's renewal, and we will turn that around,' Ms Reeves said. She added: 'Part of our record investment will deliver four million tests, scans and procedures, so hard-working people can get the healthcare they and their families need. 'There is no strong economy without a strong NHS, and we'll deliver on our Plan for Change to end the hospital backlog, improve living standards and get more money in people's pockets.' The latest spending commitment will help patients get access to diagnostic scans and treatment in places such as shopping centres and high streets, speeding up their diagnoses. The Government hopes this will help to cut NHS waiting lists, meeting Labour's goal of ensuring the health service carries out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Since taking office we have been relentless in our drive to cut waiting times for patients, delivering over 3.6 million extra elective care appointments and reducing the overall waiting list by over 200,000. 'The £6 billion investment we are announcing today will generate millions more vital diagnostic tests, scans and procedures for patients across the country.' On Wednesday evening, Ms Reeves said the Government was 'confident' it could meet its pledge to reduce waiting lists after giving the NHS a 3% annual increase in funding at the spending review. Some health leaders are, however, sceptical that the Government will meet its target, despite the funding boost provided at the spending review. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said: 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times, more GP appointments, and adequate mental health services and more can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.'

NHS to receive £29bn funding boost
NHS to receive £29bn funding boost

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

NHS to receive £29bn funding boost

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is receiving a £29bn ($39.1bn) funding boost, reflecting a 3% annual rise on current levels over the next three years to reach £226bn by 2029. The majority of the funding, revealed by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during the 11 June UK Spending Review, resonates with the Labour Party's 'Plan for Change' manifesto and will go towards cutting NHS waiting lists, improving patient care, and modernising services. Reeves revealed that the funding would also increase the NHS's technology budget by almost 50%, with £10bn ($13.5bn) of the total funding earmarked to bring the "analogue health system into the digital age". In response to the Spending Review, Steve Bates OBE, CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA), said the investments were a "huge vote of confidence" in the life sciences sector's ability to drive economic growth. 'Investments into life sciences and AI will transform drug discovery and deliver greater NHS efficiency, the Health Data Research Service could make the UK the go-to destination for health innovation, while new funding for medicines manufacturing will help us attract internationally mobile investments to the UK and create well-paid rewarding jobs across the country,' said Bates. 'Greater operational freedom and budget for the British Business Bank will allow it to play an even greater role in boosting our venture capital ecosystem and complementing the Chancellor's pension reforms to increase investment in Britain's growth sectors. This is the critical element of the Chancellor's Plan for Change that really must be delivered to the full, with no stone left unturned.' However, Patchwork Health co-founder and CEO Dr Anas Nader stated that while the funding uplift will be 'welcome support' to the NHS, 'simply increasing funding without a clear strategy on where that money is going' won't be enough to help the health service overcome the enormous challenges it faces. Nadar said: 'To create real change, this investment must be concentrated on implementing new technologies to unlock smoother, more efficient ways of working for clinicians and managers. This means ensuring systems are genuinely interoperable and making workers' lives easier, not more complicated. 'That's why, alongside the money earmarked for the NHS, I'm particularly interested to see more details of the government's £86bn commitment to R&D." RSM UK private healthcare head Suneel Gupta expressed similar concerns, warning that much of the boost will be 'consumed by pre-existing pressures faced by the UK's healthcare system'. Gupta said: 'It's unclear exactly how and where they will spend this money. 'The additional funding must be used effectively, including towards greater collaboration between the private sector and the NHS, as well as investment in technology to deliver these objectives. 'It is key that progress is monitored closely to ensure they achieve an appropriate return on investment, and relevant parties are held accountable.' The government's plans follow last year's Darzi report, an independent investigation into the state of the NHS in England carried out by Lord Darzi at the behest of health secretary Wes Streeting. The report concluded that the NHS was in 'serious trouble', owing to an investment shortfall of £37bn – funds the report found would have been invested in the NHS if the UK had matched peer countries' levels of capital investment in the 2010s. "NHS to receive £29bn funding boost" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio

Gusto Partners with Elevate to Enhance Consumer Benefit Account Offerings
Gusto Partners with Elevate to Enhance Consumer Benefit Account Offerings

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Gusto Partners with Elevate to Enhance Consumer Benefit Account Offerings

Elevate's automated benefits technology helps drive 51% increase in user satisfaction DENVER, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevate, a modern consumer directed benefits administration platform, today announced a partnership with Gusto, which helps more than 400,000 small businesses take care of their teams by simplifying payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance. Through this partnership, Gusto now offers enhanced health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and commuter benefits to its small business customers – —complementing its existing benefits platform that includes health insurance and more. Elevate and Gusto have created a portal for benefits plan participants showcasing Gusto's bold branding, have built automated integrations for streamlined plan setup, onboarding, and enrollment, and have collaboratively transitioned existing accounts to the new platform. Following the HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits integration, Gusto achieved: 26% reduction in questions per customer 57% increase in customer likelihood to recommend Gusto products and services 51% increase in customer satisfaction Gusto chose Elevate as its new technology partner for its built-in automation, API-first design, flexible branding, and strong user experience. Gusto needed a partner that could move fast and scale alongside its growth. "The decision to partner with Elevate was driven by our commitment to deliver the best possible experience for our small business customers," said Julia Miller, General Manager and Head of Benefits at Gusto. "Elevate's technology allows us to streamline our consumer account offerings, so our customers can enroll in, manage, and use these tax advantaged accounts with ease. We're excited about the initial results and the possibilities this partnership unlocks, further enabling Gusto to be a leading comprehensive benefits solution for small businesses and their teams." "Working with Gusto has been an incredible opportunity for us to demonstrate the full capabilities of the Elevate platform," said Brian Cosgray, CEO and co-founder of Elevate. "We're proud to provide a solution that not only meets Gusto's current needs but also provides a strong foundation for future growth and innovation. Our collaboration with Gusto shows how advanced technology and a shared vision for excellence can drive remarkable outcomes." Elevate partners with third-party administrators, health plans, financial institutions, professional employer organizations, and benefit platforms looking for more advanced technology solutions, and has helped partners realize up to 35% in gross margin savings. To learn more visit: About Elevate Elevate is the first completely cloud-based, API-driven, and AI-enabled consumer-directed benefits platform with a focus on configurability, embeddability and real-time automation. The all-in-one platform can manage all types of benefit accounts, from health savings accounts (HSAs) to complex health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), and even commuter and lifestyle accounts. Elevate's team of industry experts recognized the need for modern technology in an outdated benefits administration industry, which led to the creation of Elevate in 2020. About Gusto Gusto is a leading provider of cloud-based payroll, benefits, and HR solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Gusto serves over 400,000 businesses nationwide. Each year Gusto processes tens of billions of dollars of payroll and provides employee benefits—like health insurance and 401(k) accounts—while helping companies create incredible workplaces. Through one refreshingly easy, integrated platform, Gusto automates and simplifies payroll, benefits, and HR, all while providing expert support. View original content: SOURCE Elevate

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store