Event

Event Overview

The field of cellular agriculture—growing meat from cells rather than from whole animals, is advancing rapidly. In addition to technological developments, regulators have been responding with unprecedented speed to establish a regulatory pathway for cell-based meat. This talk will discuss the legal and regulatory issues of bringing cell-based meat to market in the U.S. and will also explore the socio-economic implications of these novel technologies which aim to disrupt conventional animal agriculture.

Deepti Kulkarni is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, where she advises clients on a wide range of FDA and USDA regulatory matters, including issues relating to the use of novel and emerging technologies to develop foods and animal products. Her cutting-edge practice includes counseling clients using cellular agriculture, biotechnology and gene editing, and other emerging technologies to develop and commercialize products. As a leading regulatory expert, she is a sought-after speaker on these and other issues. Deepti also maintains an active practice advising major biopharmaceutical, medical technology, dietary supplement, and cosmetic companies on complex FDA issues. Before joining Sidley, Deepti served as an Associate Chief Counsel at FDA from 2009 to 2015, where she received several awards, including the FDA Award of Merit (FDA’s highest award).

Nicole Negowetti is a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic. Prior to joining ALPC, she was Clinical Instructor at the Food Law and Policy Clinic. Nicole was also Policy Director of the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on creating a sustainable, healthy, and humane food system by supporting transformative plant-based and cultured food technology companies. Nicole also served as an Associate Professor of Law at the Valparaiso University School of Law from 2011-2016. As a law professor, her teaching and research focused on food law and policy, agricultural law, and sustainability. Nicole serves on the Food & Drug Law Journal Editorial Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Academy of Food Law & Policy. She is also a co-founder of the Northwest Indiana Food Council, whose mission is to build a just, sustainable, and thriving locally-oriented food system. Nicole graduated magna cum laude from the University of New Hampshire Law School and earned a Master’s degree in Peace and Development Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Following graduation from law school, Nicole clerked for the Honorable Carol Ann Conboy of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.