The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

Scientific advice for the FAO/WHO on cell-based food products and food safety considerations

Cultured Meat, Events, Leadership, InnovationFiona CaseNovember 1, 2022worldhealthorganization, futureoffood, foodsafety, foodtech, sdg12Comment

Where is the mad scientist?

This weekend the small horrors invading streets in the US and around the world will include a familiar trope: the mad scientist. With wild hair, a lab coat, and safety glasses, we know that she is pushing the boundaries of knowledge. But when and why did this become scary?

LeadershipFiona CaseOctober 28, 2022ESG, Mad Scientist, Discover Magazine, Kate Golembiewski, Doctor Victor FrankensteinComment

European Commission publishes draft proposal to restrict microplastics

This proposal could prohibit the use of microplastics in cosmetics, cleaning products, pesticides, and more--covering sources of microplastics that are preventable.

Environment, Leadership, Policy, Regulation, SafetyLeslie HockmanOctober 11, 2022microplastics, European Commission, microplastics in cosmetics, microplastics in cleaning products, microplastics in pesticides, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Committee, amending Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, synthetic polymer microparticlesComment

New rules for healthy foods: ‘No’ to high levels of added sugar, ‘yes’ to alt-dairy

The U.S. FDA is proposing a new rule which requires foods labeled as healthy to be more consistent with current nutrition science – and, for the first time, places restrictions on added sugar.

Leadership, Policy, RegulationFiona CaseOctober 5, 2022FDA, nutrition science, alt-dairy, added sugarComment

White House announcement of the Bioeconomy Initiative includes support for cultured meat and a streamlined process for regulatory approval

Of particular relevance to Vireo Advisors, LLC and our clients is the intent to improve the clarity and efficiency of the regulatory process for biotechnology products.

Cultured Meat, Leadership, Sustainability, Policy, Regulation, Safety, Guidance, Bio-Based, Food InnovationFiona CaseSeptember 27, 2022White House, U.S. National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, cultivating alternative food sources, cultured animal cellsComment

View Dr. Kimberly Ong’s “Solving for Safety” Presentation from the New Harvest 2022: Experience Cellular Agriculture Conference

During the New Harvest 2022: Experience Cellular Agriculture Conference, Dr. Kimberly Ong of Vireo Advisors, LLC discussed how to bring safe products to market by evaluating and demonstrating safety in her presentation “Solving for Safety”.

Commercialization, Cultured Meat, Innovation, Leadership, Risk Analysis, Safety, Regulation, Events, Food Innovation, Sustainability, PolicyLeslie HockmanAugust 31, 2022New Harvest, New Harvest 2022: Experience Cellular Agriculture Conference, Dr. Kimberly Ong, Solving for Safety, cultured meatComment

U. S. research results for all

The Biden administration just announced that by 2025 publications from U.S. federally funded research need be open access as soon as they are published: Currently they can be behind a paywall for 12 months.

Leadership, PolicyFiona CaseAugust 30, 2022Biden Administration, U.S. federally funded research, The Plan S open-access publishing pledge, open-accessComment

Yes, butter is getting harder

Canadian cookbook author Julie Van Rosendaal posted on Twitter in February 2021: “Something is up with our butter supply, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. Have you noticed it’s no longer soft at room temperature?”

Leadership, Food InnovationLeslie HockmanJuly 7, 2022dairy industry, buttergate, Julie Van Rosendaal, Alejandro Marangoni, University of Guelph, palmitic acidComment

Cultured Meat Regulation in Japan

According to a report in The Japan News, a team of experts will be established this fiscal year by the Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to investigate whether there are risks in proposed meat cultivation processes that could adversely affect human health.

Vireo Advisors takes the stage and supports the future of New Harvest

New Harvest recently announced they are running out of runway. Isha Datar, Executive Director of New Harvest said that she is no longer confident that New Harvest will raise their budgeted total for the year. She fears that they must move from a growth mindset to survival mode due to the economic slowdown, which is delaying anticipated gifts.

Cultured Meat, Leadership, Innovation, Events, Food Innovation, Risk Analysis, SafetyFiona CaseJune 12, 2022New Harvest, cell ag community, sustainable future for cultured meat and seafoodComment