Policy · supplier agreement
Material Transfer & Transparency Agreement
Receiver of plant-protein materials submitted to the Data Garden
MTTA · v1.0 · 2026-05-14
Document state: working draft — active in production, not yet reviewed or finalised. The signed agreement controls; this rendered text is for reference.
Executive summary · Transparency & Validation Partnership
Our mission — accelerating the future of food.
Food System Innovations — Action Lab (“Receiver”) is dedicated to providing the modern protein industry with high-quality, independent data. Unlike traditional Material Transfer Agreements that strictly prohibit chemical or genetic analysis, our Proactive Transparency Agreement is designed to foster an open-source spirit of innovation while protecting your brand's integrity.
Why partner with FSI Action Lab.
By providing your Materials — such as protein flours or unique ingredients — you gain access to several strategic benefits:
- Third-party validation. Rigorous, independent analysis of your ingredient's efficacy and performance in plant-protein applications.
- Data rights. You receive the raw data and results from our testing for your own internal R&D or marketing use.
- Market exposure. Inclusion in our public reports can serve as a powerful, unbiased endorsement of your product to the broader food system.
Protecting your interests.
We understand that early-stage data can be sensitive. Our agreement provides two primary “safety valves” to keep you in control of your narrative:
- The anonymisation option. If you are concerned about specific data points, you may request that all results be published anonymously, removing your company and brand names.
- The review period. You will receive a copy of any proposed publication before it goes live, giving you time to review the findings and prepare a formal response or request an embargo.
Moving forward.
We believe that transparency is the fastest route to a sustainable food system. By moving away from restrictive “no-analysis” clauses, we can work together to build the benchmarks that will define the next generation of food.
Purpose of transfer
The Receiver (FSI Action Lab) is dedicated to accelerating the transition to a sustainable food system. The Materials provided by the Company are transferred specifically for:
Independent analysis.
Comprehensive nutritional, functional, and sensory benchmarking.
Public transparency.
Potential publication of findings to provide the industry with high-quality, third-party data on these ingredients.
Right to analyse & publish
Contrary to standard restrictive MTAs, the Parties agree that:
Authorised analysis.
Receiver is expressly permitted to analyse the chemical, molecular, and functional composition of the Materials.
Publication rights.
Receiver may publish the results of such analysis (“the Results”) in public databases, white papers, or peer-reviewed journals.
Supplier protection options
To balance transparency with the Company's brand interests, the Company is granted the following options regarding the Results:
The anonymisation option.
Upon written request by the Company, the Receiver will remove all identifying information (Company name, specific brand names) from public reports. The data will instead be attributed to a “representative [Category Name] ingredient.”
The review & embargo option.
Receiver will provide the Company with a draft of the Results [e.g., 14 days] prior to publication. During this time, the Company may request an embargo of up to [e.g., 180 days] to prepare internal responses or commercial filings.
Intellectual property & data
Ownership.
The Company retains ownership of the Materials.
Data rights.
Receiver owns the raw data and Results generated from its independent testing but grants the Company a non-exclusive license to use the Results for their own internal R&D or marketing purposes.
Term & survival
This agreement shall remain in effect for [e.g., 3] years. Provisions regarding the right to publish and the protections for the Company shall survive the expiration of this agreement.