Startups

Speakers

Speakers

Speakers

Louisa

Louisa is a globally-recognized journalist and thought leader for the food & agriculture industry and employee #3 at AgFunder, joining Rob & Michael in 2015. Previously, she ran the first-ever agrifood investment publication after launching an institutional investment intelligence service for the Financial Times in Asia.

Andrew Ive

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

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 […]

Marie Brueser

Dr. Marie Brueser is the Senior Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative co-funded by the European Union. In this role, she connects startups with corporate partners to foster agrifood, sustainability, and technology innovation. Her work facilitates pilot projects, proof-of-concept studies, and scale-ups, bridging the gap between emerging technologies and industry […]

Josh Tickell

Josh Tickell is an award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. He first rose to prominence with his groundbreaking “Veggie Van” tour in 1997, where he crossed the U.S. in a van powered by used cooking oil to promote renewable energy. His debut documentary Fuel won the Sundance Audience […]

Valdemar Engel

​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 Wiersma

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 Bekker

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 […]

Celine Levy

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

​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 Wilms VK

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

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

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

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

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 […]

Silke Hemming

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

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

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

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

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 […]

Carolina Villa

​Carolina Villa, Principal at Nucleus Capital, is a scientist turned investor with over 10 years of experience in the food and synthetic biology sectors. At Nucleus Capital, she focuses on programmable biology. She’s an expert in TEAs and scaleups. In 2021, she obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Rotterdam School of Management, […]

Sebastiaan Masselink

Sebastiaan Masselink brings over 25 years of experience in illiquid equity investments across both listed and private markets. In 2025, he joined Yanmar Ventures, following nearly a decade of working with specialized investment teams, including roles at Cardano Asset Management in the UK and the Netherlands. There, he led the origination and management of private […]

Arnanda Scherner

Leading the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture Through Microbial Innovation Ananda Scherner was appointed as the CEO of Agrobiomics in September 2024. With a PhD in Plant Sciences and a strong background in agronomy, Ananda brings over 7 years of experience in the Crop Protection Industry. She has held key roles in leading agricultural and Ag-tech […]

Casey Woodward

Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture with Acoustic Sensing Technology Dr. Casey Woodward is the Founder and CEO of AgriSound, a British agri-tech start-up focused on using advanced acoustic sensing technology to monitor pollinator activity and improve agricultural sustainability. With a PhD in Biological Sciences and a background in business development, Dr. Woodward has been a key player […]

Ajay Varadharajan

Harnessing AI to Drive Sustainability and Reduce Supply Chain Emissions Ajay Varadharajan is an engineer turned climate-tech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience as a climate scientist. With formal training in Sustainable Systems and Mechanical Engineering, he founded GreenSwapp AI to address tough climate challenges using AI and technology. Ajay’s platform helps retailers and […]

Justus Lauten

Innovating Food Sustainability Through AI and Data-Driven Solutions Justus Lauten is the founder and CEO of Foodforecast, a company that harnesses the power of AI and machine learning to drive innovation in the food industry. With a background in computer science and extensive entrepreneurial experience, Justus is passionate about sustainability and reducing food waste. His […]

Stephan van Sint Fiet

An Innovator’s Quest for Sustainable Global Trade Stephan van Sint Fiet joined Vivici as CEO in March 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology and food industries. Driven by a passion for purposeful innovation, Stephan is committed to building forward-thinking organizations—startups and global leaders alike—that create sustainable impact. At Vivici, he leads […]

Joachim Kahler

Leading the Future of Livestock Management Through Innovation Joachim Kähler is the CEO of Nofence, the company behind the world’s first commercial virtual fencing system for livestock. With a strong belief in technology’s power to solve real-world challenges, Joachim leads Nofence in redefining livestock management to support animal welfare and sustainable agriculture. He brings deep […]

Robert Gerlach

Driving the Regenerative Future of Agriculture Through Tech and Collaboration Robert Gerlach is an impact-driven entrepreneur at the crossroads of technology and sustainability. As CEO and co-founder of Klim, he leads the company’s mission to accelerate regenerative agriculture through scalable digital solutions. With a Ph.D. in Engineering Science from Oxford and over 15 years of […]

Ross Hendron

Pioneering Crop Innovation for a Resilient, Sustainable Future Ross Hendron, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and CEO of Wild Bioscience Ltd, an innovative spinout from the University of Oxford. With a bioinformatics, genetic engineering, and plant biology research background, Ross co-invented the foundational technology behind Wild Bioscience, which applies wild plant evolution to develop resilient crop […]

Paul Rutten

Transforming Agriculture with Microbial Innovation for Sustainable Growth Dr. Paul Rutten is the CEO and Founder of Concert Bio, a pioneering biotech company focused on restoring missing microbes in greenhouse and soilless farming systems. With a PhD in plant-microbe interactions from the University of Oxford, Paul has leveraged his deep expertise to create Overture™, Concert […]

Rieks Smook

Empowering the Agri-Food Transition Through Innovation and Connection Rieks Smook is the CEO of Grassa, bringing over 30 years of global experience in food, agri, and sustainable business development. With a passion for building bridges between people, cultures, and industries, Rieks combines deep financial and F&A expertise to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable […]

Francesca D'Cruz

​Francesca D’Cruz is a Senior Associate at Fall Line Capital, supporting the co-founding partner. She joined Fall Line from Arcadia Biosciences, where she focused on bringing better-for-you foods to market. Francesca also consulted for The March Fund, a food-tech venture capital firm, and worked as an Agricultural Statistician at the USDA, contributing to the California […]

Richie Gray

Richie Gray is Vice President and Global Head of SnackFutures Ventures, Mondelēz International’s venture investment hub. Richie leads Mondelez’s efforts to identify and invest in global brands and technologies that are poised to disrupt the future of snacking and drive tangible growth in the company’s core categories of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks. Richie has […]

Henrike Langbroek

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

​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 […]

As the Managing Director of StartLife, Bert-Jan Woertman is at the forefront of driving innovation in agrifood technology. With a strong background in building innovation ecosystems, Woertman has a proven track record in fostering international collaborations. He played key roles in creating High Tech Campus Eindhoven and co-founded the venture-building program HighTechXL and the incubator […]

Suradj Hiralal

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

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

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

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 […]

Anthony Klemm

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 […]

Martha Schlicher

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

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 […]

Laura Fernández Celemín

​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 […]

Nikki Trott

Nikki Trott is a global thought leader, strategist, advisor, coach, investor, board member, speaker, author, and podcaster in conscious business.

Darren Logan

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Ingrid van der Meer

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

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

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, […]

Ali Morrow

Ali is an early-stage food, agriculture, and climate tech investor with an operational background. She is a Partner leading early-stage agrifood tech investments in Europe at the intersection of health and nature with Clay Capital. Ali is a Kauffman Fellow, co-founder of the Rising Tide Collective, and mentor with RockStart’s agrifood tech accelerator.

Jacob Morén

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 […]

Tzvi Zvirin

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

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

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. […]

Bela Jankovich
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.
Gert Kema
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.
Joost de Laat
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
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.
Ana Piekarz
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

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 […]

Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE has earned international recognition for bringing the implications of Climate Change and Sustainability to the Defence and National Security sectors. After an entire career in the British Army, he wrote a Review of Defence’s approach to Climate Change and Sustainability as his final role. He is the […]

Emile van der Staak is a visionary chef and owner of restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel, renowned for its innovative plant-based cuisine. Under his leadership, the restaurant boasts two Michelin stars and a prestigious green star, having been named the best vegetable restaurant for two consecutive years.
Mathias Müller

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 […]

Willem Ruster

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 Fockema SHIFT Invest

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 InvestNL

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 […]

Charlotte Weston EY

Charlotte is an experienced sustainability and business professional, deeply committed to work that delivers a positive and lasting impact on people’s lives, communities and the environment. With extensive advisory experience working with private sector, government and non-profit organizations, Charlotte is experienced in shaping business strategy and building strong corporate governance to support the effective oversight […]

Maurien is a senior science fellow at dsm-firmenich and a global leader in co-creating and innovating nutrition, health, and beauty solutions. With renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. After earning her Ph.D. in biomolecular mass spectrometry of glycoconjugates, […]

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.

Laura Thissen is a results-driven leader dedicated to advancing nature-positive food production and a regenerative economy. With over 20 years of experience, she has spearheaded sustainable innovation and scalable climate solutions. As the previous director of StartLife in Wageningen, Laura built and led a thriving food, ag, and biotech innovation hub, fostering corporate-investor startup partnerships […]

Nadav Berger has deep, decades-long roots in the food industry. A third-generation food industrialist, he shifted to entrepreneurship, actively building several companies specializing in food applications, marketing, and distribution. In 2008, he co-founded the food applications hub FoodLab, focused on the innovation and development of our food systems. The innovations there led to his founding […]

Arnout has always been engaged in bringing people into motion and impacting people’s lives positively and sustainably. Before joining Astanor in 2021, he had been leading Engie’s global business to make clean cooking solutions more affordable for the 3 billion people still cooking on wood and charcoal. Before that, Arnout led VC and M&A deals […]

Marie Asano ECBF

Marie Asano is currently a partner at the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund. This specialized fund invests in growth-stage companies active in ag-tech, nutrition, industrial biotech and packaging. At ECBF, Marie is the partner leading the nutrition and food tech vertical. Before that, she worked at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), a German-based seed fund where she lead […]

Karin is a life sciences lawyer with a focus on functional foods & feed and pharmaceuticals. Her core expertise is to assist companies regarding the market introduction of innovations in this field. This includes the qualification of new ingredients and advising on the appropriate regulatory pathway belonging thereto, such as for Novel Foods, GMOs and […]

Dr. Judith van der Horst – Graat is passionate about finding common goals and language that bridge people and organizations in Food & Health. She started her career in Food & Health over 25 years ago with a PhD. She took several managerial and director roles in corporates like Mars and Danone Nutricia, as well […]

Elizabeth Lunik - Rabobank

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 […]

Rens de Jong is a well-known speaker, event host and moderator in the Dutch business sector. He has the ability to increase the energy and enthusiasm in the room by connecting the audience. People in the audience described him as very energetic, witty and well-prepared.

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.

Adam Anders is a co-founder and managing partner of Anterra Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in agrifood technology. Adam has over 20 years of experience in private equity and venture capital, including serving as a director of Rabo Private Equity (Netherlands) and Ironbridge Capital (Australia). Before this, Adam co-founded a fintech venture and worked […]

Dr. ir. Sjoukje Heimovaara was appointed to the position of President of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research on 1 July 2022. Furthermore, she is a council member and deputy chair of the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (AWTI), which makes recommendations to the government on policy concerning science, technology, and […]

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