Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
Chris Waldrop is a Senior Health Scientist in the Office of Surveillance Strategy and Risk Prioritization within the Human Foods Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this role, he leads cross-agency working groups focused on advancing strategic priorities related to nutrition and food safety, contributing to the development and implementation of key regulatory frameworks. He played a central role in the drafting of the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule and continues to support its implementation through communications, stakeholder engagement, and outreach efforts. His work is oriented toward strengthening food safety systems, improving traceability, and supporting science-based decision-making across the food supply chain. Prior to joining the FDA, Chris Waldrop served for 12 years as Director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America, where he led research, policy analysis, advocacy initiatives, and media engagement on a wide range of food policy issues. His career combines regulatory expertise, public health training, and policy leadership, supported by a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and an academic background in advertising from Texas Tech University. Earlier in his professional journey, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa, working as a community health educator—experience that helped shape his long-standing commitment to public health, risk communication, and evidence-based policy development.
Explore the full list of experts who will take part in conferences, panels, and
event activities.
He holds a degree in Microbiology from the University of Oslo (1989) and has built an extensive international career in aquatic animal health and aquaculture policy. He began his professional career as a scientist at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, focusing on fish health and disease prevention in aquaculture. He later served in several roles within the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture, including Head of the Animal Health Unit. He subsequently joined the European Commission (DG Health and Consumer Affairs), where he was responsible for developing the EU legislation on aquatic animal health. From 2017 to 2019 he chaired the FAO COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and, since 2020, he serves as Director General and Head of the Department of Aquaculture at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Leading academic and researcher in fish nutrition and physiology in aquaculture, and an Associate Professor at the Universidad de Chile. His work focuses on optimizing nutrient utilization to enhance production efficiency and sustainability in aquaculture systems.
International Regulatory Analyst at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based in Santiago, Chile, a position he has held since 2010. An Agricultural Engineer with advanced training in agrarian economics and international trade policy, he has extensive experience in regulatory affairs, food safety, and international cooperation through both government and multilateral organizations.
