At the eleventh edition of F&A Next, B-COS and NoPalm Ingredients were named winners of the Feike Sijbesma Sustainable Innovation Award 2026. B-COS won in the early-stage category and NoPalm Ingredients in the later-stage category. Each company received a cash prize of €12,500.
The international award, named after former DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma, supports entrepreneurs in scaling science-based solutions to urgent global challenges, with a strong focus on sustainable and climate-resilient food systems. The award is made possible by the dsm-firmenich Progress Foundation, in partnership with the University Fund Wageningen and Wageningen University & Research.
From more than 120 entries, ten startups were selected to present themselves as Next Heroes to an international audience of investors, industry leaders, and food and agtech professionals at F&A Next 2026.
Feike Sijbesma: “Science has already given us many of the solutions. The real challenge is scaling them, fast enough and large enough, to make a real difference. B-COS and NoPalm Ingredients show what becomes possible when entrepreneurship and science reinforce one another.”
B-COS delivers a breakthrough in bio-based crop protection
Belgian biotech company B-COS, a spin-off from Ghent University, specialises in producing structurally defined chito-oligosaccharides (COS) through precision fermentation. The company enables scalable, high-quality manufacture of bioactive molecules for agricultural applications. With its patented technology, B-COS is developing a bio-based alternative to synthetic pesticides that activates plants’ natural defence systems in a targeted, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way.
B-COS adds a powerful new tool to the farmer’s ever-shrinking crop-protection toolkit, at a time of mounting regulatory pressure on plant protection products. According to the jury, the company stands out for its deep scientific expertise, built on more than 15 years of research, and the resulting bio-based technology.
Chiara Guidi, CEO and founder of B-COS: “Nature gave us the product; we are making it scalable. This award will help us deliver on that ambition.”
NoPalm Ingredients offers a sustainable alternative to palm oil
Drawing on food industry side streams, NoPalm Ingredients produces sustainable oils and fats through fermentation as an alternative to conventional palm oil. The Dutch company’s solution has a wide-ranging impact on climate, biodiversity, and the social dimensions of the food chain. With a team of experts, the company is investing in knowledge and quality to refine and scale up its oils and fats.
“NoPalm Ingredients’ approach shows how biotechnology can contribute to a future-proof food system,” the jury said. “Their technology combines scalability with the ability to produce locally, delivering positive impact for people and planet. The jury also values their scale-up strategy and the clear interest from market players.”
Lars Langhout, co-founder and CEO of NoPalm Ingredients: “This recognition is a tremendous boost for our team and confirms that we are building a scientifically robust solution that is ready to scale commercially.”