Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is supporting the growth of the UK’s novel foods ecosystem through its dedicated expert network, NFX UK, which has secured $650,000 in funding from Coefficient Giving to scale its impact across the UK and expand into Europe for the first time.
Combining world-class analytical and contract research capabilities with deep regulatory science expertise and active ecosystem coordination through NFX UK, the team are playing a key role in addressing the systemic barriers that continue to slow the commercialisation of novel foods.
Those barriers are significant. Scientific innovation in areas such as cell-cultivated products and precision fermentation continue to accelerate and has become a national priority. For many innovators, preparing robust Novel Foods dossiers and navigating regulatory requirements remains a major challenge.
NFX UK was created to provide that support. Since its launch in September 2025 as the UK’s first dedicated Novel Foods Expert Network, it has engaged stakeholders across 14 countries, built a community of more than 260 organisations and individuals, facilitated over 15 structured regulator engagement activities, and driven trusted two-way engagement with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. The network operates through three interconnected pillars: Ecosystem Building, Regulatory Engagement and Knowledge Exchange.
The investment from Coefficient Giving will enable NFX UK to deepen its domestic impact while expanding into the EU, applying the successful model and learnings developed in the UK to support Europe’s growing protein diversification agenda. This marks the beginning of a broader international expansion strategy.
Through this work, NFX UK is helping companies navigate regulatory complexity while supporting a more innovation-friendly regulatory environment. In doing so, it is contributing to the UK Government’s engineering biology ambitions and helping establish the UK as a global leader in novel foods regulatory excellence.
Jacinta George, Managing Director and VP at RSSL, said:
“Our ambition is to make the UK the world’s leading environment for responsible novel food innovation, and we are helping to build the infrastructure needed to make that happen. At RSSL, we bring together regulatory science expertise, analytical capability and ecosystem leadership, with NFX UK serving as the platform through which this expertise delivers national and now international impact.
This investment allows us to scale what we have built and strengthen our role in accelerating faster, higher-quality and more responsible regulatory approvals in the UK, across Europe and, ultimately, worldwide.”
Abhi Kumar, Associate Program Officer at Coefficient Giving, said:
“Accelerating the development of alternative proteins has significant potential to support more sustainable and resilient food systems. NFX UK’s combination of scientific expertise and ecosystem leadership makes it a strong partner for driving systemic change. We are excited to support NFX UK’s work to strengthen regulatory readiness, foster collaboration across the sector and help translate scientific innovation into real-world impact.”
Further details on delivery partners supporting this next phase of NFX UK will be announced in due course.
To learn more about NFX UK, visit nfxuk.co.uk/
To read the full NFX UK Impact Report, visit nfxuk.co.uk/news-events/news/nfx-uk-impact-report-25-26/
Innovations in Food (& Beverage) Processing & Packaging is a bi-monthly magazine distributed globally in Digital format. www.innovationsfood.com. X: @Innovfoodtech. Instagram: @innovationsinfoodtechnology. Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/terry-prior52
