Program - F&A Next

Live Virtual Networking

15:00 - 19:00

On 19 May, our virtual networking platform will open, allowing you to already contact, meet and greet with other participants. The best opportunity for real-time virtual networking is expected to be 30 minutes prior and after the program.

Welcome & Opening by Moderator

15:30 - 15:35

Rens de Jong
Moderator

Fireside chat: The Impact of Innovation

15:35 - 15:50

Food & Ag Innovation only started around 2014 and definitely gained momentum ever since. In 2020 investments in global food and agtech were up over 30% to some USD 26 bln, irrespective of Covid-19 influences. Then again, the pandemic clearly did trigger changes in consumer behavior. Has ‘life as we know it’ irrevocably changed? And what about the momentum of the much needed innovation earlier in the value chain? Rob Leclerc, founding Partner of Agfunder and Nicholas Fereday, Executive Director Food & Agribusiness at Rabobank will compare notes.

Panel: Convergence of Food, Ag and Tech?

15:55 - 16:15

After pushing agricultural output to the max for decades, we are now facing the absolute need to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of food production if we wish to sustainably meet the needs of a growing population. Digitization and tech are needed to disrupt traditional approaches including sustainable agricultural inputs, alternative proteins and e-commerce, reducing food loss and waste along the way.

Next Heroes in Agtech

16:15 - 16:45

Showcasing four promising emerging growth companies transforming agriculture, including a short Q&A with an investor panel.

Panel: Why can only a few scale an early stage business?

16:50 - 17:10

Successfully scaling an early stage business is a challenge in any industry, though definitely more complicated in food & ag. Why does only a very small group of startups manage to disrupt the sector and create the impact the envisaged when starting their business. Is it about conservatism of the industry, regulation, access to capital or…?

Chasing proteins: will plants eventually replace the animals?

17:10 - 17:25

Each generation consumes more proteins than the one before. Thanks to rising incomes, individuals are moving toward more energy-dense diets traditionally including more animal-derived products. Will overall global meat consumption will continue to grow or will conventional meat eventually be reduced to a small minority thanks to plant-based animal alternatives and cultured meat?

Next Heroes in Foodtech

17:30 - 18:00

Showcasing four promising emerging growth companies transforming food, including a short Q&A with an investor panel.

Panel: Targeting Zero Carbon in Food & Ag

18:00 - 18:25

Agriculture’s footprint in greenhouse gas emission is significant, about 20% of world CO2 emissions from all human activity. Soil carbon sequestration, removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil carbon pool, can have significant potential. At the same time, there are many unknowns including what would be the most effective practices to store CO2.

Closing remarks by Moderator

18:25 - 18:30

Rens de Jong
Moderator

Live Virtual Networking

Welcome & Opening by Moderator

Rens de Jong

Fireside chat: The Impact of Innovation

Rob Leclerc

Nicholas Fereday

Panel: Convergence of Food, Ag and Tech?

Anne-Valérie Bach

Hadar Sutovsky

Eric Klaassen

Hanneke Faber

Next Heroes in Agtech

John Brubaker

Dominic Edmunds

Ruud Barth

Nusqe Spanton

Ali Morrow

Nicky Deasy

Tanmay Annachhatre

Panel: Why can only a few scale an early stage business?

Alexander Ribbink

Andrew D. Ive

Wilco Schoonderbeek

Anieke Wierenga

Chasing proteins: will plants eventually replace the animals?

Adam Anders

Maarten Bosch

Kees Kruythoff

Next Heroes in Foodtech

Napala Pratini

Michelle Egger

Julia Streuli

Ayça Dündar

Ali Morrow

Nicky Deasy

Tanmay Annachhatre

Panel: Targeting Zero Carbon in Food & Ag

Béla Jankovich de Jeszenice

Prof. dr. Barbara Baarsma

Prof. dr. Ken Giller

Matt Marshall

Paul Gambill

Closing remarks by Moderator

Rens de Jong