Mark Davison

The UK government has implemented a new, cutting edge plan for UK crop production: UK Government unveils new National Action Plan for Plant Protection Products Against a backdrop of a 14% decrease in available active substances since 2016 and a new target to reduce PPP use by 10% in the next 5 years, the UK Government is sensibly promoting the importance of IPM: 🙂 IPM, a concept initiated in 1967, and actively promoted in the UK since 1972. Like we aren't already using IPM, literally everywhere?? It's not a policy focus that is going to make a huge difference: Perhaps more support with lightest touch regulation for natural biostimulants and microbes capable making plants more robust to resist diseases and pests? That might actually help!

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🚨 Greenwashing in the European Medical Cannabis Industry: A Risk to Patient Safety 🚨 The European cannabis market is booming, but deceptive practices like greenwashing and compliance washing are putting patient safety at risk. Claims of "sustainability" and false GMP compliance not only harm vulnerable patients but also damage the credibility of the entire industry. 🌱⚠️ 💡 How can medical cannabis businesses combat this? By leveraging Digital Twin Technology and Quality by Design (QbD) principles: ✅ Digital Twins: Provide real-time monitoring, traceability, and compliance verification from seed to sale. ✅ QbD Processes: Build quality into products from the start with data-driven, science-backed methodologies. 🛠️ These tools ensure consistent product quality, regulatory compliance, and transparency—key to protecting patients and building trust in this rapidly evolving market. 🌍 Let’s prioritize authenticity over empty claims. Together, we can create a safer, more sustainable future for medical cannabis in Europe. #MedicalCannabis #PatientSafety #GMPCompliance #DigitalTwins #QualityByDesign #Greenwashing https://lnkd.in/euGrJiNq Image

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Innovate UK Business Connect's Michael Burnett is the next speaker to the UK Sustainable Chemicals Summit, hosted by Pioneer Group at their Wilton Centre facilities, organised by Dr Jen Vanderhoven, FRSC. He discussed the support provided by IUK Business Connect. Their work to connect business and innovation in the UK aims to introduce solution providers to challenge holders. One of schemes for this is the Innovation Exchange (iX) platform, UK Chemicals Innovation Ecosystem Directory will be launched in January 2026, creating a directory of organisations actively engaged in sustainable chemicals and materials. The Sustainable Chemicals Incubator Plus (SCIP) is work within IUK exploring SME scale-up and deployment in line with the UK Modern Industrial Strategy. This work will benchmark scale-up support around the world, analyse the Industrial Strategy for opportunities for chemicals, and conduct workshops to explore opportunities and identify types of intervention.

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🎄 Day 18 of 25 Days of Solitek 🎄 Amorphous forms aren’t inherently unstable, but they do require a stabilisation strategy. Amorphous APIs sit in a higher-energy state, which can improve apparent solubility and dissolution. But without control, they often: 👎 recrystallise during storage 👎 convert during processing 👇 show time-dependent performance changes Stabilisation approaches (such as polymeric matrices, solid dispersions, or carefully controlled processing conditions) are what make amorphous systems viable. When done properly, amorphous formulations can be a powerful solution rather than a risk. More tomorrow. 🎅 Solitek - Solid Technologies SL

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‼️UK Cannabis Prescription Spike Raises Serious Regulatory Concerns‼️ Between March 2023 and March 2024, private prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines more than doubled - 130% increase to over 346,000 items dispensed. While this reflects growing patient demand and access, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued a formal alert highlighting serious concerns about current prescribing practices, including: 🔴 Prescriptions issued for conditions without robust clinical evidence 🔴 Lack of oversight and unclear clinical justification in some clinics 🔴 Poor communication with patients’ GPs and incomplete safety reporting 🔴 Non-compliant advertising, risking patient trust and safety The CQC is now urging a multi-agency regulatory review involving the Department of Health, MHRA, GMC, and others to ensure high standards of care across the sector.

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CBD industry stakeholders have formally asked the Food Standards Agency whether whole-plant hemp extracts should be treated as novel foods, arguing that they have a long history of safe use and should fall under general food law. #cannabis #drugspolicy https://lnkd.in/ewvuvUQG

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"Here is the completed Article 4 submission: Novel Food Status of Whole-Plant CBD Extracts, and an accompanying executive summary. This documents makes the case that whole-plant hemp oils and extracts, produced by traditional processes, must be recognised as non-novel foods under Regulation 2015/2283. It is evidence-heavy, legally grounded, and references FOI disclosures, historical records, and case law that regulators cannot easily ignore. The document was submitted to the UK FSA ( Food Standards Authority) Friday (05/09/25)" Thank you Sean Hocking for publishing this Article 4. Just to be clear, this is the main document, and I am opening it to the industry for rebuttal. I am not a legal professional, but I am here to learn. Equally, bare in mind that I've fallen into the hobby of investigation. So, any crazy comments will be met with a request for confirmation of interests even though I would have already done a background check beforehand. Yep, that's the type of industry we're in, so let's keep things respectful and polite. If there are perceived information gaps, it's not the full submission, and the FSA has been informed that more information is to come. The most common objection will likely be: “A drug can’t be a food.” So let me ask two questions: 1. How many drugs can be processed into recognised foods? 2. If there is a documented history of whole-plant consumption, which including active compounds now labelled as “controlled cannabinoids” or “contaminants”, does that re-definition not amount to an attempt to diminish the authenticity of what was once a staple crop? This is an invitation to debate, and I welcome rebuttal. But I believe history, evidence, and law point to one conclusion: whole-plant hemp extracts are foods, not novelties. But enough of what I think, tell me your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/egE9pgPQ

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FUJIFILM Biotechnologies on Wednesday held the grand opening of its expanded #manufacturing and process development facilities in Teesside, UK — serving as the venue for a panel discussion on how #biomanufacturing could potentially reshape the #UK's competitive edge in #lifesciences. Fujifilm's investment was touted as a "vote of confidence" in the UK as a world-leading location to develop and manufacture advanced medicines and vaccines. Steve Bagshaw, chair of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a UK initiative meant to bridge the gap between research and commercial application, said the Fujifilm biomanufacturing site in Teesside is unique. "There isn't anywhere like this in the UK," according to Bagshaw. He described Teesside as a "positive piece of investment by Fujifilm to get us to a situation where as demand increases, you can continue to grow on this site." Natraj Ram, vice president of innovation at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said that single-use platforms — such as the 2,000-liter and 5,000-liter #bioreactors at Fujifilm's Teesside site — are fundamentally changing how next-generation therapies move from development to commercialization. According to Ram, advances in process intensification now enable productivity at the 5,000-liter scale enabling companies to move from clinical to commercial manufacturing on the same platform, while reducing risk, accelerating timelines, and improving capital efficiency. "We are able to produce about 80% of the commercial needs of the any of the drugs that are coming out with this 5,000-liter bioreactor," Ram said. Shaun Grady, chair of AstraZeneca UK and the UK's BioIndustry Association (BIA), said that there are significant opportunities for biomanufacturing in the country, where medicines and pharmaceutical products remain one of the largest export sectors. "Our country has the talent, scientific excellence, and industrial base to lead in advanced biomanufacturing globally — and with the right policy environment, this sector can be a major engine of growth for the UK economy," Grady said. "This facility is not just a fantastic new site for Fujifilm in the UK. It showcases the North East [of England] as a place to build and scale globally competitive capabilities." Grady credited the UK policy landscape for Fujifilm's investment. He pointed to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), a British government initiative aimed at supporting businesses in the sector by providing up to £520 million — approximately $709.5 million — in capital grants. Targeted government investments, such as LSIMF, have been "key in unlocking investments and derisking large-scale commitments," Grady said. "Ensuring the scheme is accessible to [small and medium-sized enterprises] and has predictable fund applications has been a priority for the BIA." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNaqeF55

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Economics for MP's and Investors - a NAMS snapshot in the UK The UK market for New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—animal-free testing technologies like organ-on-a-chip, in vitro models, and AI tools—is rapidly expanding. Valued at ~USD 1.7 billion in 2023 for in vitro toxicology (a key proxy), it's projected to reach USD 3.9 billion by 2030 (12.6% CAGR), driven by global growth to USD 29.4 billion. Key drivers include: 1) Scientific superiority for human-relevant outcomes; 2) Economic benefits, attracting investment and jobs; 3) Ethical demands to reduce ~2.6 million annual animal procedures; 4) Government roadmap to phase out tests (e.g., pyrogen by 2025, Botox mouse by 2027); 5) £75 million public funding via UKRI/NC3Rs. UK innovations shine through spinouts like CN Bio (raised $44.8M) and organizations such as NC3Rs (funded 550+ projects) and Animal Free Research UK (£11.5M grants). With over 2,000 university spinouts since 2011 (led by Oxford, Cambridge), the sector promises reduced animal use (>80,000/year potential savings), faster drug development, and UK leadership in ethical science. Support continued investment to accelerate validation and adoption.

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🌱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀🌱 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗼-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁. The latest move from WRAP’s UK Packaging Pact could be a real game-changer. One of its newly announced key goals is to reduce reliance on #virgin #fossil-based #polymers and actively support the growth of #biobased #feedstocks and #bioplastics as credible, low-impact alternatives. This is an important signal — not just for packaging, but for the entire materials value chain. It points to growing recognition that #bioplastics, when responsibly sourced and designed for circularity, can play a meaningful role in cutting emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and driving innovation in sustainable manufacturing. At the same time, the #EU’s #Bioeconomy #Strategy is reinforcing this transition at a broader scale — promoting bio-based solutions as part of Europe’s path toward climate neutrality and circularity. The alignment between national and EU-level initiatives could accelerate investment, infrastructure development, and adoption of next-generation materials. If these policies are followed through with clear standards, incentives, and collaboration across industry, the UK could emerge as global leaders in the bio-based economy — proving that sustainability and competitiveness can grow hand in hand. 🌍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗼-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲. https://lnkd.in/e9eiNXHQ #Bioplastics #Bioeconomy #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Innovation #WRAP #PackagingPact #EU #ClimateAction

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When you first decide to make a business out of medicinal science, there’s so much in getting to that first product approval that most businesses prioritise buying R&D systems at the ‘time of need’ through that process - at this point, a combination of physical records and a light QMS/Quality documents management system seems fit for purpose. The problem is once you look to gain approval in other markets, handle follow-up submissions, and start developing a pipeline, you’re suddenly managing a mountain of quality information with seemingly no time to select and implement a QMS/QDMS. By launching our Starter Pack for the CARA Life Sciences Platform, we’re providing the R&D processes, but crucially, the QMS & QDMS to manage your operations and scale without interruption - all in a single out-of-the-box platform that can be up and running in no time. https://lnkd.in/e83xnCec

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🇬🇧 £400 MILLION UK MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT! FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has officially opened its expanded medicine and vaccine factory on Teesside following a £400 million investment. The Japanese maker of biologics, vaccines, and advanced drugs says the Billingham site is now the UK's largest single use, contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO). Fujifilm says the expansion, on the site which employs 960 people, adds new bioreactors giving the facility a 19,000 litre capacity. The 110,000 sq ft factory is due to be operational in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, the opening of the Bioprocess Innovation Centre provides laboratory space and will act as a global centre of excellence for biomanufacturing and development work. At more than 102,200 sq ft, the facility doubles the site's existing lab space. Together, the facilities are intended to give Fujifilm's global manufacturing network a bigger capacity, and the ability to make complex medicines for conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and rare disorders.

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