Speakers

Andrew founded Big Idea Ventures (BIV), a venture capital firm that tackles the world’s most pressing challenges by supporting exceptional entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers. BIV’s New Protein and Global Food Innovation Funds invest in sustainable food solutions that positively impact climate change, animal welfare, and human health. BIV’s third fund is focused on partnering with […]

Gulsah Uysal is the Regional Director for Western Europe at EIT Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). In this role, she leads efforts to accelerate the transformation of food systems by fostering innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across the agrifood ecosystem.​ With a strong background in […]

​Valdemar Engel is a Senior Investment Associate at the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), where he focuses on venture investments in Greentech startups driving the green transition. He serves on multiple boards across EIFO’s portfolio and is passionate about supporting ambitious founders on their entrepreneurial journeys. With a strong background in venture capital […]

Sanne is a project leader and scientist at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, where she leads projects focused on high-throughput fermentation screening and microbial process optimization, leveraging advanced analytical technologies. Her previous postdoctoral and PhD research centered on industrial microbiology, with a strong focus on metabolic engineering, quantitative microbial physiology, and the application of ‘omics […]

Martijn is currently an Expertise Leader at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, overseeing projects to optimize microbial protein production processes. Throughout his career, he has held various roles as a Scientist and Team Lead at organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, the contract research organization NIZO, and the biotechnology start-up Photanol, where he led its […]

Céline Levy began her career in microfinance, building a strong foundation in financial inclusion and development. She later transitioned into corporate and structured finance roles within the healthcare sector, working across emerging markets. In 2020, Céline joined the European Investment Fund, where she now focuses on investing in impact-driven funds across Europe, particularly emphasizing Greentech […]

​Lucy Schroder is an Associate in Agriculture and Food at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). In her role, she focuses on advancing regenerative agriculture initiatives, including leading analyses on the costs and incentives associated with its adoption in Europe. Lucy is also actively involved in the One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) […]

Daan van der Kolk is the Investment Director at The Yield Lab Europe, where he leads the Dutch office’s investment efforts. With a strong background in venture capital, having previously worked at Eneco Ventures, and experience in strategy consulting at McKinsey & Company, Daan brings deep expertise in scaling startups and driving innovation. Based in […]

Samuel Rapolu is Investor Partnership Manager at StartLife, where he builds and nurtures relationships between AgriFoodTech startups and forward-looking investors. With a background in plant breeding and agricultural sciences, and hands-on experience as a startup scout and analyst, Samuel understands the technological and commercial sides of food system innovation. He leverages this expertise to help […]

Rutger Beens is a Dutch entrepreneur specializing in digital product development and operations. He is the Co-Founder of Proba, an Amsterdam-based startup focused on simplifying supply chain decarbonization. Before Proba, Rutger co-founded Peaks, a fintech platform designed to make investing accessible to first-time investors. With a strong strategy, product development, and team leadership background, Rutger […]

Ying Shao is the Co-Founder and CEO of Plantik Biosciences, an AgBiotech startup based in Paris. She leads Plantik’s mission to revolutionize plant breeding through genome editing and AI-driven technologies, enabling the rapid development of climate-resilient crops like hemp, quinoa, and tomato. With a business development and strategy background, Ying combines cutting-edge science with a […]

Silla Scheepens is a Fund Manager, Impact Investor, and Strategic Advisor with a strong track record in strategy, marketing, and sales within consumer-driven sectors. As a partner at Future Food Fund, she is passionate about growth and transformation and is committed to driving positive change in the global food system. With a deep understanding of consumer […]

Dr. Silke Hemming is Head of the Greenhouse Technology research team at Wageningen University & Research, a position she has held since 2007. Her team takes a systems engineering approach to horticultural innovation, focusing on quantifying resource use across various production systems and developing sustainable solutions for global greenhouse cultivation. Silke is a leading expert […]

Bastiaan de Wit is a Dutch corporate lawyer and co-founder of Zebra Legal, a boutique law firm based in Amsterdam specializing in venture capital, M&A, and legal strategy for startups and scale-ups. With a background in corporate law and a focus on entrepreneurial legal support, Bastiaan works closely with founders from early-stage formation through funding […]

Mike Poodt is a leading expert in digital crop technology at Rijk Zwaan, a global vegetable breeding company. With a strong background in information management and digital transformation, he focuses on integrating data-driven solutions into horticultural practices. Mike implements autonomous steering systems that optimize greenhouse cultivation through algorithmic decision-making. His work aims to enhance modern […]

Guus van Heijningen is the founder and CEO of Captain, a Rotterdam-based AI company dedicated to transforming the horticultural sector through data-driven innovation. With a background in data science from Ghent University, where he authored a thesis on cryptocurrency market predictions using web scraping , Guus combines technical expertise with deep industry insight.​ Raised in […]

Kevin Parekh co-founded Proeon, a company developing high-performance plant-based protein ingredients for sustainable and nutritious food solutions. With a strong techno-commercial background, Kevin brings extensive experience in product development, supply chain management, and open innovation across the food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries. Before founding Proeon in 2018, Kevin played a key role at OmniActive Health […]

Henrike Langbroek is the CEO of OneThird and a seasoned, hands-on people manager with a strong background in logistics, production, and global sourcing. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and empowering people through a coaching leadership style. Known as a true change agent, she effectively translates strategic and commercial goals into actionable plans, driving […]

​Alexandre Bastos is the Head of Front End Innovation at Givaudan, bringing over 20 years of experience in the food industry across mature and high-growth markets. He has a strong background in foodtech, venturing, entrepreneurship, strategy development, and digital transformation, complemented by cross-functional corporate expertise and a multicultural perspective. Before his tenure at Givaudan, Alexandre […]

Bart Van Hooland is a managing partner at Thia Ventures, where he invests in the intersection of food, biotechnology, and health. He previously co-founded Droia Ventures, a global VC fund focused on oncology. Bart started his career at BCG and combined investment roles with innovation leadership positions, including at GIMV and IWT. He currently serves […]

Suradj Hiralal is a project manager at Oost NL, working on the business development food team. Suradj, an alumnus of Wageningen University & Research, has also served as a board member for the StartHub Wageningen incubator. At Oost NL, his responsibilities include preparing startups for the Startup Fonds Gelderland, developing innovative business cases in the […]

Angelique van Helvoort is a project manager at Oost NL with extensive experience in the international research industry, as well as in the public and private sectors. Her diverse skill set spans politics, government relations, startups, journalism, and strategic communications. With a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Hogeschool Utrecht, Angelique is skilled in connecting people […]

Karin Slobbe-Visser is passionate about contributing to a thriving planet where people and nature coexist harmoniously. Focusing on regenerative and inclusive agri-food chains, she works to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and equitable systems. She serves as Portfolio Lead for the Regenerative Innovation Portfolio at Foodvalley, driving the shift towards regenerative agriculture in Europe. […]

Tomer Tzach is a seasoned manager with a robust background in technology and finance. Before joining CropX, Tomer led two technology companies to acquisition under his leadership. He also served as an acting partner at Israel’s Eurofund VC firm. Before his time at Eurofund, Tomer spent four years as a software developer and team leader […]

Before joining Enko, Tony led global licensing and business development strategy across Corteva Agrisciences’ Seeds portfolio. In this role, he focused on defining and executing global crop strategies and identifying business opportunities within the seed sector. Previously, Tony worked at Dow AgroSciences, where he held various commercial roles across North America and Asia, including supply […]

Dr. Martha Schlicher is a General Partner at Cultivation Capital, where she specializes in AgriFood Tech investments. With over 30 years of global experience in life sciences, she has led the development and commercialization of technologies at Monsanto and various agricultural sustainability startups through her role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at BioGenerator. Martha is the CEO of […]

Tomas Turner is the co-founder and CEO of Cosaic (previously: Cultivated Biosciences), a company dedicated to improving the lives of both humans and animals through sustainable food innovation. With a background in Material Engineering from the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL), Tomas discovered his passion for alternative proteins through his involvement in the Effective Altruism […]

​Dr. Laura Fernández Celemín has been the Director General of the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) since January 2015. She joined EUFIC in 2002 as a Scientific Advisor and has played a key role in the organization’s growth. ​ Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Institut Paul Lambin in Brussels, a degree […]

As a Mars Science Leadership Team member, Darren Logan leads Corporate Science Discovery, overseeing two key research organizations that drive scientific innovation across all Mars segments and divisions. He heads the Mars Advanced Research Institute (MARI), which connects Mars with emerging science and technology to spark groundbreaking discoveries in sustainability, health and wellness, and computational science. […]

Sander Peltenburg is a passionate startup advocate specializing in agri-food and tech innovation. With over a decade in the Dutch startup ecosystem, he supports founders in fundraising and resilience while frequently speaking on entrepreneurship. He now works as a start-up and scale-up banker in the Food and Agri sector at Rabobank. As founder and former […]

Onno van Manen is the Associate Director of Program and project Delivery at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), leading operations to enhance the impact of global nutrition. With extensive experience in international development, he has worked across Africa and Asia in senior roles at UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Red Cross. Passionate […]

Christian Brix Tillegreen is the Director of Planetary Health at BioInnovation Institute, where he leads a dedicated team in developing and executing investment strategies for sustainable startups. He also serves on several boards within the institute’s portfolio, supporting the growth of impactful ventures. With a background in commercializing early-stage companies, Christian specializes in leveraging cross-functional […]

Sebastiaan Berendse, Corporate Director of Value Creation at Wageningen University & Research, is a dynamic connector in knowledge-driven organizations. With experience in academia, consulting, and government, he specializes in knowledge transfer, startup coaching, and public-private partnerships that drive innovation. Passionate about leveraging research for real-world impact, he excels in business management, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and innovation […]

Cornelius Lahme, Marketing and Communications Lead at Bluu Seafood, brings expertise in marketing and sales from various food startups. With a PhD in social entrepreneurship and franchising, he now develops marketing strategies for Europe’s pioneering food biotech company specializing in cultivated fish.

Dr. Ingrid van der Meer, Manager of the Business Unit Bioscience at Wageningen Plant Research, is a leading expert in plant molecular genetics with over 25 years of research experience. She specializes in genetic regulation and metabolic pathways, utilizing advanced genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics tools.

Greg Whitaker, a trained accountant and South African entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Aggregate One Ltd, a startup revolutionizing the fresh produce trade. Since its launch in 2019, Agrigate One has leveraged technology to digitize and automate the supply chain of perishable goods, enhancing connectivity and profitability in the agricultural sector.

Jan Doldersum has been Manager of Chain and retail at Rijk Zwaan since 2017, overseeing global strategy for retail, trade, and consumer markets. Over the past 18 years, he has held various roles at Rijk Zwaan, including leading business development in Asia while based in China (2009-2013). His expertise includes retail partnerships, marketing, product development, […]

Jacob Morén is the Chief Operating Officer at Improvin’, where he drives the transformation of the agri-food sector through digital innovation, transparency, and sustainability integration. He specializes in fostering cross-supply chain collaboration, helping stakeholders leverage technology and engage farmers to achieve measurable GHG emission reductions through primary data. Jacob is committed to building digital systems […]

Dr. Tzvi Zvirin is the CEO and co-founder of BioArmix, an agritech company pioneering biological crop protection using predatory bacteria. With over 15 years of experience in the biotech industry, Tzvi has a strong track record in developing technologies from inception to realization. Before BioArmix, he co-founded BioBetter Ltd., where he served as Vice President […]

Mark Drewell is a co-founder and collaborative CEO of New Foundation Farms, a UK-based regenerative agri-food enterprise that aims to revolutionize the food system by producing affordable, nutrient-dense food through regenerative farming practices. With over 30 years of corporate experience, Mark has held executive roles in multinational companies and has been instrumental in initiatives that […]

Nikolaas Vles is the Chief Executive Officer of NIZO, a leading contract research organization specializing in food and health, where he emphasizes innovative solutions and sustainable food transitions. Before joining NIZO in September 2023, he was CEO of Prolactal GmbH, a global leader in B2B organic and goat ingredients for infant formula and high-end applications. […]

Béla Jankovich de Jeszenice is a passionate advocate for the intersection of agriculture, environmental sustainability, and innovation. As the head of his family’s estate, Jankovich Birtok in Hungary, and Chairman of Commonland’s Board, he is dedicated to restoring degraded landscapes. Béla also advises Anterra Capital, a global VC fund focused on food and agtech, and is an investor and board member of AgroVIR Kft, a leader in farm management software. His work emphasizes nature conservation, private land stewardship, and sustainable agricultural practices for future generations.

Gerrit H.J. Kema is an emeritus professor of phytopathology and former head of the Laboratory of Phytopathology at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. With degrees in agronomy, plant breeding, and phytopathology, he brings 40 years of research expertise in host and pathogen genetics and genomics. His work has spanned from studying Zymoseptoria tritici in wheat to specializing in foliar and vascular diseases of tropical perennial crops, particularly banana. Throughout his career, Prof. Kema has mentored numerous students and led significant international research initiatives, advancing sustainable solutions for global agricultural challenges. His research led to the establishment of a joint venture, Yelloway, in which Chiquita collaborates with KeyGene, MusaRadix, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to develop innovative solutions for banana cultivation. He is co-editor, alongside Prof. André Drenth of Queensland University, of a book series on the sustainable cultivation of bananas, further contributing to the field’s knowledge and best practices.

Prof. dr. Joost de Laat is Managing Director of the Social Sciences Group and Professor of Economics at Wageningen University & Research. As an applied microeconomist (PhD, Brown University), his transdisciplinary research focuses on sustainability and equal opportunities, with publications in leading academic journals. He previously held positions at Harvard University, the University of Quebec at Montreal, the World Bank (managing its Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund), and global philanthropy Porticus. From 2018 to 2024, he was Professor of Economics at Utrecht University and director of its Centre for Global Challenges. Joost has extensive international experience, working across Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.

Julia Buech is a Senior Analyst at Rabobank’s highly valued global knowledge centre, RaboResearch. Within RaboResearch Food & Agri, Julia is focused on the consumer foods industry, providing clients with exclusive insights and views on market developments, sector trends, and framework conditions. She is a regular speaker at industry events, covering a range of topics related to sustainability, nutrition, and technology.

As Director Global Nutrition, Ana is responsible for leading the development and execution of nutrition strategy and portfolio transformation. Ana is a globally experienced professional with a background spanning Latin America, North America, and Europe. She has worked in fast-paced, innovative multinational companies, including Coca-Cola, Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Mead Johnson Nutrition, while conducting research at leading hospitals and practicing as a Registered Dietitian. With expertise in product innovation, life cycle management, and regulatory strategy, Ana integrates science into commercial strategy while navigating the global policy landscape. She is passionate about shaping regulatory frameworks and fostering collaboration with policymakers, investors, academia, and key stakeholders. In addition to her role at Kraft Heinz, she chairs the Nutrition Advisory Board of Rise Against Hunger, serves on the European Technology Platform ‘Food for Life’ leadership team, and advises startups, offering strategic guidance and scientific expertise in health and nutrition.

Alex Datema serves as the Director of Food & Agri Netherlands at Rabobank, where he spearheads the bank’s agrifood vision. His role involves collaborating with Food & Agri sector networks to promote sustainability in the industry, partnering with agricultural organizations, provincial authorities, government entities, and value chain stakeholders. Alex is also a member of the […]

In the capacity of Corteva Catalyst™ Sr. Director, Mat has the privilege to lead technology acquisitions and investments in startup companies that align with Corteva’s strategic priorities. Mat has a passion for collaboration tactics which allow Corteva to deliver industry-leading traits in must-win battlegrounds. Prior to this role, Mat led Corteva’s Biotechnology Strategy function; established […]

At Wageningen Economic Research, Willem manages the ‘Sustainability Management in Agri & Food’ program. He has 12 years of experience in running sustainability assessments in the private sector. In these years, he ran several complex, informal project structures and guided researchers and consultants in projects with among others within farm inputs, agri commodity trade, food […]

Florentine is an ambitious professional dedicated to contribute to a more sustainable world. She sets high standards for the companies she works with and strives for ambitious growth and results. Through cooperation and dedication, she is considered a valuable partner in boards and as shareholder. Florentine is experienced in venture capital, private equity and banking […]

Nina Waldhauer is a specialist for the Agrifood sector at the national promotional institute Invest-NL. With more than 15 years of international experience at Invest-NL, Wageningen University & Research, the European Commission, Delft University of Technology and Maersk Growth, Nina has gained significant experience in accelerating important social transitions within the agri-food sector and making […]

Cindy van Rijswick is Global Strategist for the vegetable, fruit and floriculture sectors and for the agricultural supply sector at RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. Cindy has published reports on a range of topics, regularly acts as a speaker at (international) conferences and provides analyses and visions for Rabobank’s activities and clients. Before Cindy started working at […]

Marjolein Brasz is the Managing Director of Foodvalley NL, championing food system innovation alongside industry partners. With a background in business administration from Erasmus University and extensive experience in the energy sector, including roles at Shell, ExxonMobil, and Guidehouse, she's focused on sustainable solutions in transport, bio-energy, and biomaterials. Brasz has spearheaded ecosystem innovation, notably in transitioning towards a circular economy with the Economic Board Amsterdam. At Foodvalley NL, she leads efforts to transform the food system through collaborative innovation.

Elizabeth Lunik is a senior agricultural sustainability researcher for food and agribusiness at RaboResearch. She focuses on topics related to farming practices and economics, sustainability, GHG emissions, and environmental footprinting at RaboResearch. She previously covered Farm Inputs Europe &Africa markets at Rabobank. Before joining Rabobank, she worked at the Thünen Institute of Farm Economics for […]

Feike Sijbesma, is a top business executive, one of the most influential Dutchmen and often described as a sustainability trailblazer. Under his leadership, Royal DSM transformed from a producer of bulk chemicals to a provider of healthy food ingredients for people and animals and specialist (green) materials, with sustainability and innovation as the main drivers.