【Event background】
This symposium is uniquely positioned within Japan’s ongoing regulatory developments. It is widely expected that the Consumer Affairs Agency will prepare guidelines for the sale of cell-based foods by the end of this fiscal year, with an interim draft anticipated around the summer. As such, the event takes place squarely between the draft announcement and the finalization of these guidelines. A key objective is to bring international developments in regulatory science to the attention of Japan’s administrative stakeholders. Discussions held here may also inform the content of Japan’s forthcoming guidelines, based on the latest expert committe meeting records by the Consumer Affairs Agency. We therefore strongly encourage participation from international experts, whose insights will be invaluable for Japan. For further background on Japan’s current discussions, please see: “Guideline Creation for Cultivated Food | How Japan’s Subcommittee Is Building the Path Toward Safe Implementation” ( https://jaca.jp/2025/08/8324/ ).
In addition, the conference is organized around three essential pillars for realizing a Cell-Ag-READY society: regulatory science, innovation, and the communication that bridges the two. The program will feature lectures and panel discussions by leading experts from Japan and abroad who are engaged in the latest research and initiatives. Company booths will also provide opportunities for interaction among participants. Our goal is to deliver a meaningful and engaging program for all attendees.
【Table of Contents】
Event Overview
【Dates】
Thursday, November 13th – Friday, November 14th, 2025
【Venue】
ENEOS Hall
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505
Komaba II Campus, Advanced Science and Technology Research Center, South Building No. 3, 1st Floor
【Language】
Japanese, English – simultaneous translation will be available
【Co-hosts】
- Economic Security Intelligence Lab, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo
- Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA)
- Cellular Agriculture Working Team under the Council for Public-Private Partnership in Food Technology
【Participation Fees】
Conference Participation
- JACA Members (On-site / Online: Free of charge)
- Non-Members (On-site / Online: c. $67)
- Speakers, Sponsors, and Invited Guests (Information already provided by the Secretariat)
Networking Reception Participation (Date: Thursday, November 13, 18:30–)
- JACA Members & Non-Members (Flat rate: c. $33)
- Speakers, Sponsors, and Invited Guests (Information already provided by the Secretariat)
【Registration Page】
【Event Secretariat】
MA Convention Consulting Co., Ltd.
4-7 Kōjimachi Parkside Building, Room 402, Kōjimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083
Tel: +81-3-5275-1191
E-mail: jaca_2025@macc.jp
Speaking opportunity & Exhibition booth
【Sponsorship Opportunities】
Companies wishing to set up a booth or deliver a presentation at this symposium are kindly requested to review the prospectus via the button below, complete the application form, and contact the Secretariat.
- For presentations: Please register for sponsorship and notify the Secretariat of your intention to present.
- For booths: Please register for sponsorship and notify the Secretariat of your intention to exhibit. Booth applications are also open to non-sponsors; however, discounted rates are available for those considering sponsorship.
In addition, we are seeking industry associations willing to support this symposium through promotional cooperation. If you are interested, please review the prospectus and submit the relevant application form to the Secretariat.
Tentative Program
【Timetable】
Day1 – 13th November
Regulatory Science (Risk Assessment and Management): Morning Session
9:30-10:00
Opening/Networking
10:00-11:00
Status of Discussions at the Food Sanitation Standards Council’s Newly Developed Foods Investigation Subcommittee
Speaker：Maako Sugiyama
（Office of Health Policy on Newly Developed Food, Food Safety Standards and Evaluation Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Associate Director）
11:00-12:00
“Circumstances surrounding cell-cultured foods, also known as cultured meats- the status of their development and safety-related regulatory trends in other countries –“
Speaker： Dr. Satoshi Kitajima
（Center for Biological Safety and Research, National Institute of Health Sciences）
12:00-13:00
Lunch （Sponsor： Hoxton Farms Ltd）
Day1 – 13th November
Regulatory Science (Risk Assessment and Management): Afternoon Session
13:00-14:00
An Attempt at a Comprehensive Analytical Approach for Risk Assessment of Cell-Cultured Foods
Speaker： Dr. Shizunobu Igimi
（Tokyo University of Agriculture Food Safety Research Center，Research Institute Director ，Professor）
14:00-15:00
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Cultivated Meat Safety Risk Assessment
Speaker： Professor William Chen
（Endowed Professor and Director, Singapore Future Ready Food Safety Hub (FRESH), Nanyang Technological University Singapore）
15:00-15:15
Coffee break （Sponsor： BlueNalu）
15:15-16:00
Safety Assessment of Media Components in Cultivated Meat
Speaker： Kimberly Ong
（ Toxicologist at Vireo Advisors, LLC）
16:00-16:45
Decoding Cellular Safety: Analytics and Bioinformatics at the Frontline of Cultivated Meat
Speaker： Alex Ward
（Arta Bioanalytics/Founder and Principal Consultant）
16:45-17:00
Coffee break （Sponsor： Keller&Heckman LLP）
17:00-18:30
Dialogue with Experts
(The line between known/unknown areas and how to expand shared knowledge of some of key safety themes)
- Chemical substances
- Hazards in cell culture processes (unknown allergens, hormones, tumor formation)
- Nutrition (Both health hazards and health impact)
Chair
Dr. Ryan Simon
Sr. Director, Safety &Regulatory,
Intertek
Panelist
Dr. Hans Verhagen
Food Safety
& Nutrition Consultancy
Panelist
Ashley Liang Wang 王亮
Panelist
Dr. William Chen
Panelist
Dr. Kimberly Ong Vireo Advisors, LLC
Panelist
Dr. Alex Ward
Arta Bioanalytics/Founder and Principal Consultant
※Note taker: Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture
18:30-20:00
Networking Reception （Sponsor： TBU / Open for Application）
Day2 – 14th November
Science (development and industry side): Morning session
9:30-10:00
Opening/Networking
10:00-11:00
Cultivated meat: Product expectations and categorization
Speaker： Elliot Swartz
（The Good Food Institute）
11:00-12:00
A Consumer-Centric Approach: Designing Cultivated Meat for Taste, Texture, and Health
Speaker： Dr. Rosalyn Abbott
（Associate Professor | Carnegie Mellon University）
12:00-13:00
From cell to cuisine: the role of cell choice on sensory experience, food safety, and commercial viability
Speaker： Ernst van Orsouw
（CEO of Roslin Technologies）
13:00-14:00
Lunch （Sponsor： TBU / Open for Application）
Day2 – 14th November
Communication (science and safety), other: Afternoon session
14:00-15:00
The responsibility of companies, developers, and the industry in communicating about the safety and security of novel and cellular food products
Speaker： Dr. Toshiaki Karaki
（University of Tokyo・Association for Improving Trust in Food Professor Emeritus・Representative Director）
15:00-15:15
Coffee break （Sponsor： TBU / Open for Application）
15:15-16:45
Expert Conversation
(To make the three wheels working – regulatory science / R&D / communication)
Theme of discussions would be like
- How information should be disclosed
- Past successful consumer engagement case studies for scientists or companies
- Engagement with the media, etc.
Chair
Eiko Nakano （Journalist）
Panelist
Makoto Toriyama
(The President of Toriyama Cattle Farm )
Panelist
Maki Morita（Food Communication Compass Representative）
Panelist
＊＊＊＊＊
Panelist
＊＊＊＊＊
※Note taker: Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Japan Associatoin for Cellular Agriculture
16:45-17:00
Coffee break （Sponsor： TBU / Open for Application）
17:00-17:15
Expert Talk : Hoxton Farms Ltd
Speaker： Dr. Joseph Taylor
（Hoxton Farms Ltd）
17:15-17:30
Expert Talk : BlueNalu
17:30-17:45
Lessons Learned in the Regulatory Journey of Seeking Approval for Cultured Foods
Speaker： David J. Ettinger
（Partner of Keller and Heckman LLP）
17:45-18:00
Mapping the European Landscape of Cultivated Meat and Alternative Protein Initiatives:
Insights from the FEASTS Project
Speaker： María Busolo Pons
（ CNTA(National Centre for Food Technology and Safety, Spain)）
18:00-18:15
TBU
18:15-18:30
China Cell-based (Cultured-based) food regulatory development
Speaker： Ashley Liang Wang 王亮
（CNFIA:China National Food Industry Association）
※Titles and speakers are subject to change without prior notice.
Corporate Booths
TBU / Open for Application
【Sponsors】
■Lunch
■Coffee break
【Promotional Partners】
