FPP Amsterdam Speaker Spotlight: Mathilde do Chi, Managing Director & Founder, Forward Food Law

Mathilde Do Chi, Managing Director of Forward Food Law, describes how an initial interest in food regulations led to a career based around helping others navigate this complex landscape

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“Growing up, I quickly realized that food was a multifaceted topic that could be perceived from different angles based on one’s culture, country, religion, health, and ethics,” recalls Mathilde Do Chi, Managing Director & Founder of Forward Food Law. “Born and raised in France but with Dutch and Vietnamese roots, I cherished the education I received in gastronomy, especially having my parents introduce me to fine dining experiences such as going to Michelin-starred restaurants when I was a kid.”

However, when Do Chi needed to give up animal products for health reasons, she says she felt disconnected from the food vision she’d grown up with, where animal products were a non-negotiable part of the everyday diet. “This compelled me to seek different ways of eating that opened me up to a whole new world of flavors – tofu, mycoprotein, microalgae, forgotten crops, and many more,” she explains.

I cherish working on new sources of food as they can help us achieve a sustainable food system while improving public health

Parallel to this dietary revamp, Do Chi was becoming increasingly interested in regulatory aspects, as she discovered foods considered a staple in other regions just weren’t available in Europe. This initial revelation piqued her interest so much that Do Chi has since built a career dealing with the legal elements of new food development. The food law consultant comments, “I cherish working on new sources of food as they can help us achieve a sustainable food system while improving public health. Regulatory speaking, I find it mind-boggling, as countries around the world have different approaches in either restricting or embracing new sources of food. That’s why I decided at the beginning of my career to not only focus on EU legislation but also on APAC, North and South America, and the Gulf Region.”

At The Future of Protein Production Amsterdam, the panel discussion Do Chi is participating in is called Ensuring food safety in novel proteins – navigating regulatory innovation, overcoming challenges and opportunities. In her experience, what are the most significant challenges on the regulatory safety side? “Most regulatory bodies require novel food applicants to resort to standardized testing methods even though they might produce inconclusive results. Moreover, as novel foods can be produced thanks to a wide variety of production processes, guidelines applicable to them cannot be as extensive as the ones applicable to standardized products such as cured meat or dairy,” she answers. “At the same time, the lack of detailed recommendations represents a prime opportunity for companies to change guidelines and actively engage with authorities to ensure such documents will support rather than stifle innovation.”

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Open innovation framework

When it comes to tackling regulatory challenges, Do Chi feels that there is strength in numbers. “Startups should discuss challenges and opportunities with other startups,” she states. “It would be rare for only one startup or even a bigger company to be struggling with a specific topic. By joining forces, startups can, for instance, set up trade associations that will create a fair level playing field and enable fruitful discussions with public authorities.”

By joining forces, startups can, for instance, set up trade associations that will create a fair level playing field and enable fruitful discussions with public authorities

She also believes that trade associations or NGOs can do the heavy lifting for several companies at once by advocating for certain regulatory changes, such as setting up clear labeling guidelines for new sources of food. “This is what the Plant-Based Foods Global Alliance does, by discussing with governments and plant-based companies the importance of having labeling guidelines that help companies label their products without risking a fine or being accused of misleading consumers,” Do Chi details. “As the Board Advisor Member to the Alliance, I have worked in multiple jurisdictions to ensure fruitful discussions with local authorities and give companies training on labeling products. I love working on labeling so much that I even released a 110-page legal analysis on plant-based and vegan alternatives to products of animal origin in late 2022 that I am thinking of re-editing shortly.”

Labeling is just one part of the legal jigsaw, and those in the broader regulatory field often emphasize that bringing experts on board is key to success for startups in the alt proteins sector. In-house experts are obviously ideal but what about the startups that simply don’t have the budget for more staff? “Hiring a consultant may be a good option, not only to fill any knowledge gaps but also to train the quality or product development team on essential regulatory matters,” says Do Chi. She also points out that startups can get some access to experts via incubators and accelerators. After working with EIT Food since late 2023, Do Chi herself became an expert and mentor for its ecosystem, where startups can book consulting hours via the consortium.

And, she adds, “Alternatively, if you are looking to gain knowledge on a specific topic at your pace and in a more flexible way, you can follow online courses specifically tailored to non-lawyers, such as the one on EU novel food regulations I recently launched. After giving novel food workshops in multiple jurisdictions, I gathered feedback from my clients and combined exclusive resources into this course designed for those wanting to better understand the EU regulatory framework.”

Mathilde will be taking part in a panel discussion, Ensuring food safety in novel proteins – navigating regulatory innovation, overcoming challenges, and opportunities, at The Future of Protein Production Amsterdam. Book your place today to hear another 100 speakers, network with +400 industry leaders, and visit the exhibition stands of more than 45 participating companies