Background information
The Government Chemist Conference will take place on 23-24 June 2026 at the Nexus, University of Leeds, as an in-person event.
The global food system faces increasing pressures from climate change, population growth and the need to ensure long‑term food security. Addressing these challenges requires innovation across the food system, alongside proportionate, evidence‑based and adaptable regulation.
The conference will bring together professionals from across science, industry and policy to explore how measurement science can support a modern and responsive regulatory food system.
Julian Braybrook, Government Chemist will host the conference. The conference will feature keynote lectures by Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency, and Dr Justine Betja, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The conference will cover four themes focused on regulation, innovation, food production and environments
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Responsible regulation for food
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Measurement for evolving food systems
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Engineering our future food
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Protecting our environment
Day 2 will also feature a networking session focused on engineering biology for food and will be hosted by the EngBioMet network.
Remote attendance will be possible for those that cannot attend in person.
Event details
- Date 23-24 June 2026
- Venue Nexus, Discovery Way, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 3AA
- Cost (Prices exclude VAT)
- Full in person event £300 (conference dinner included*)
- 1 day in person event £175
- Online event £100/day
*Attendance to the conference dinner is allocated on a first come first served basis as spaces are limited.
Programme
Please note that the programme and information about the speakers will be updated regularly on the event page. Follow links for further information about the speakers and talks.
23 June, Session 1 Responsible regulation for food
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0945 Registration
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1030 Chair’s introduction- Julian Braybrook, Office of the Government Chemist
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1035 Welcome address by the Government Chemist Julian Braybrook
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1050 Keynote Future food- importance for society and the economy- Ian Young, Food Standards Agency
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1120 Review of Government Chemist referee cases 2023-26- Paul Hancock, Office of the Government Chemist
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1140 Port health regulatory environment and technology- Anthony Baldock, Association of Port Health Authorities
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1200 Measuring tomorrow’s table- Navigating testing approaches and regulatory challenges in modern food systems- Wing-yan Winnie Chum
23 June, Session 2 Measurement for evolving food systems
- 1320 Chair’s introduction- Ian Lonsdale, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- 1325 Keynote Innovative food production in a regulatory environment- Justine Betja, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- 1355 Advancing the reliability of honey authenticity data- Selvarani Elahi, Office of the Government Chemist & Adrian Charlton, Fera Science
- 1415 From Data to Action- How shared industry intelligence strengthens food integrity- Ruth MacDonald, Food Industry Information Network (Fiin)
- 1435 Break
- 1455 Regulation of innovative food products- Thomas Vincent, Food Standards Agency
- 1515 TBC
- 1535 Advancing STEC diagnostics to support risk management- Matthew Gilmour, FSRN
- 1555 TBC- Jane Parker, University of Reading
- 1615 TBC- Natalie Howe, Ivy Farms
- 1635 Closing
- 1900 Drinks reception
- 1930 Dinner
24 June, Session 3 Engineering our future food
- 0915 Registration
- 0945 Chair’s introduction- Linda Bedenik, BioIndustry Association (BIA)-Engineering Biology Advisory Committee (EBAC)
- 0950 Microbial food systems- Karen Polizzi, Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins
- 1010 Cellular agriculture manufacturing- Gary Lye, CARMA
- 1030 Break
- 1050 Cell Cultivated Products -methods review- Malcolm Burns, NML at LGC
- 1105 FOOD-I -All Ireland Agri-Food Research- Gary Williamson, Queens University Belfast
- 1125 Addressing metrics and standard challenges in alternative protein safety assessment leveraging in vitro digestion and machine learning- Taskeen Niaz, NAPIC
- 1145 Speaker Panel Q&A- Linda Bedenik, BIA EBAC
- 1200 Networking deep dive session hosted by EngBioMet network
24 June, Session 4 Protecting our environment
- 1400 Chairs introduction- Gary Williamson, Queens University Belfast
- 1405 A multi-method platform for detection and characterisation of microplastics- from QC materials to food- Dorota Bartczak, NML at LGC
- 1425 Allergen detection in non-dairy milks- Christopher McElroy, NML at LGC
- 1445 Break
- 1505 The importance of soil health for food production- Simon Jeffrey, Harper Adams University
- 1525 Sustainable packaging- carbon footprint methodology- Matthew Barker, WRAP
- 1545 Closing remarks- Julian Braybrook, Office of the Government Chemist
- 1555 Conference close