Shaping the Future of Ingredient Innovation in a New Political Era  

The ingredient innovation ecosystem in the U.S. is entering a period of deep uncertainty resulting from policy and leadership changes under the Trump administration. Following a wave of growth driven by synthetic biology technologies — such as precision fermentation and cell-based ingredients — and fast-track regulatory strategies like the self-affirmed generally recognized as safe pathway, the industry is now confronting a political and regulatory pivot. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services has brought a turnabout in the operational landscape of the ingredients industry, with early signals pointing to increased scrutiny of engineered ingredients, a preference for traditional fats and whole foods, and an overhaul of current safety evaluation frameworks. 

The newly formed Make America Healthy Again Commission pushes for stricter ingredient oversight while regulatory shifts disrupt commercialization and heighten value chain risks in the ingredients industry. Companies now face a turning point in strategy: adapt to the administration’s clean-label and health-first messaging or prepare for regulatory bottlenecks and constrained innovation pipelines.  

This webinar will: 

• Highlight key regulatory shifts under RFK Jr.’s leadership and their impact on U.S. ingredient innovation 

• Identify emerging opportunities, such as functional wellness ingredients and bio-based alternatives that support public health  

• Recommend forward-looking strategies to safeguard product pipelines, from reframing ingredient value propositions to expansion into international markets