At F&A Next 2026, ten high-potential startups will take the stage as this year’s Next Heroes, representing the next generation of innovators in the agrifood sector. Selected by Rabobank and Anterra Capital, co-organising partners of F&A Next, this group reflects the most relevant innovation trends shaping the industry today.
All selected companies will also be eligible for the Feike Sijbesma Sustainable Innovation Award, recognizing breakthrough solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
The Next Heroes 2026
Early stage
- atmo, represented by Jen Godderidge
- AuditQ, represented by Yelco Gonzalez
- B-COS, represented by Chiara Guidi
- Optagon Labs, represented by Khalil Kaddoura
- Proofminder, represented by Ambrus Vansco
Later stage
- Imagindairy, represented by Eyal Afergan
- NoPalm Ingredients, represented by Lars Langhout
- EVJA, represented by Davide Parisi
- BiocSol SRL, represented by Denis Payen
- Uraphex, represented by Adrián Valdeolmillos
“We applied to Next Heroes because scaling transition finance requires strong ecosystem collaboration and partnerships. Being selected is a great validation of the problem we’re solving, and we’re excited to connect with partners across finance, agriculture, and climate to turn momentum into real projects.”
— JEN GODDERIDGE, atmo
With this selection, Rabobank and Anterra Capital reaffirm their shared commitment as co-organising partners of F&A Next to support innovations that are not only groundbreaking, but also scalable, actionable and directly relevant to the challenges facing the agrifood sector today.
A sharper focus on real-world challenges
“One of the most notable shifts in this year’s applications is the strong move toward solutions that directly address bottlenecks within the agrifood value chain. Compared to previous years, fewer submissions focused on broad or loosely defined themes. Instead, startups presented more targeted, practical innovations with clear pathways to impact.
There was also a noticeable decline in applications solely focused on the protein transition. Rather than standalone concepts, we now see more specialized solutions tackling specific challenges, from crop optimization to supply chain transparency.”
— Sander Peltenburg │ Rabobank
Three key innovation themes
Across the ten selected startups, three clear trends emerge:
1. Digitalization of primary agriculture
Data and AI are increasingly being deployed to improve decision-making, boost yields, and manage risk. Companies such as Atmo, Optagon Labs, and EVJA demonstrate how technology is enabling more precise and predictable farming practices.
2. A new phase in the protein transition
The focus is shifting from structured meat alternatives to fermentation-based solutions for dairy and fat substitutes. Imagindairy and NoPalm Ingredients highlight how these technologies are advancing in both scalability and product quality.
3. More efficient use of inputs and reduced environmental impact
From biological crop protection to advanced monitoring systems, startups like BiocSol and Urtech Water are contributing to more sustainable production methods with lower pressure on climate and biodiversity.
In addition, companies such as AuditQ and Proofminder stand out for their strong focus on transparency, quality, and traceability—critical elements in an increasingly complex global food system.
Addressing sector-wide challenges
The selected startups align closely with the key challenges identified for the agrifood sector toward 2040: producing with lower environmental impact, strengthening the resilience of food systems, and improving the efficiency of value chains. What sets this group apart is not only their technological innovation, but also their clear focus on real-world adoption. This ability to translate innovation into practice is essential for driving meaningful system change.
At the same time, one notable gap in this year’s submissions is the limited focus on labor substitution through automation and robotics, an area that remains highly relevant, particularly in sectors such as horticulture and organic farming.
Accelerating through F&A Next
“F&A Next provides these startups with a powerful platform to accelerate their growth. Early engagement with investors is a key component, especially for those actively raising capital. For early-stage companies, the primary value lies in refining and validating their proposition, as well as identifying the right partners within a complex value chain. For later-stage companies, the focus is on scaling operations and strengthening market positioning. In both cases, access to a strong international network of corporates, research institutions, and financial partners is essential to move from innovation to broad adoption.”
— Sanjay Birjmohan │ Anterra Capital