Lab-grown meat, edible insects, and 3D printing to redefine UK plates

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have released a landmark thematic report outlining the future foods most likely to reach UK consumers by 2035.

The report, Emerging Food Innovations in the UK, provides a blueprint for the next decade, categorising new technologies by their market readiness and regulatory complexity.

The update comes as the UK food system faces increasing pressure from climate change, supply chain shocks, and a growing demand for sustainable protein. For producers, the report acts as a critical early warning system, detailing the safety evidence and regulatory hurdles required to bring next-generation products to market.

From vertical farms to designer proteins

The FSA has adopted a tiered approach to categorise emerging technologies based on their potential impact and proximity to the dinner table:

• Near-term (next  five years): technologies like controlled environment agriculture (CEA) — including vertical farming — and edible insects are seen as the closest to mainstream adoption. While vertical farming offers year-round resilience, the FSA warns that producers must ensure hygiene standards for contact materials and equipment are meticulously documented.
• Mid-term (five to 10 years): this category includes cell-cultivated foods and precision fermentation. The FSA is already evaluating four applications for cultivated meat (including foie gras and chicken) and estimates the first approvals could land as early as 2027. However, producers are warned that “low market readiness” remains a hurdle due to consumer scepticism and the engineering challenges of scaling from lab to factory.
• Long-term (10+ years): more conceptual technologies such as 3D food printing (eg, layered chocolate or mashed potato), molecular farming, and reverse food manufacturing — which extracts nutrients from by-products — are currently on the regulator’s watchlist.

For the industry, the FSA’s report coincides with the continued rollout of the Cell-Cultivated Products Regulatory Sandbox, which allows innovators to work with regulators before submitting formal applications.

“Emerging technologies are reshaping how our food is produced and sourced,” said Dr Thomas Vincent, deputy director of innovation at the FSA. “This report gives industry and government clear sight of what is coming, and what is required to ensure these products meet the UK’s high standards.”

Key regulatory focus areas for producers include:

• Allergenicity: the FSA highlighted that edible insects may trigger reactions in people with shellfish allergies, necessitating rigorous labelling and testing.
• Safety specifications: new-to-nature designer proteins — created using AI — will require detailed evidence on production methods and identity since they have no history of human consumption.
• Clear claims: as vertical farming grows, the FSA will strictly monitor consumer-facing claims to ensure they are not misleading regarding environmental benefits or nutritional content.

The SPS Agreement shift

Adding a layer of complexity for producers, the FSA also recently confirmed that the UK intends to align with EU rules under a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement by mid-2027. This means even businesses not exporting to the EU may need to adjust their operations to meet these standards, ensuring the UK remains a trusted, innovation-friendly environment.

By setting out these regulatory expectations nearly a decade in advance, the FSA aims to provide the certainty needed for long-term investment in the UK’s burgeoning food-tech sector.