Call for SMEs in northern Netherlands to help with food transition

The Northern Netherlands is acquiring a key position in the transition to sustainable production of healthy food. For Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, the explosively growing demand for healthy and sustainably produced food represents a market opportunity of global scale with local impact and social significance.

This market opportunity enables the agri-food sector and all of its supplying companies to make a rigorous turnaround to become more sustainable, close cycles, radically reduce CO2 and nitrogen emissions, increase biodiversity and achieve nature inclusiveness. There are many initiatives in the region that capitalize on these opportunities. Opportunities that are also there for the numerous companies in our region!

How? We'd love to show you!

Natascha Kooiman of the Food Transition Coalition

On May 12 we will organize a Food & Business event for Northern SMEs. We start at noon and kick off the program with inspiring stories from, among others, Natascha Kooiman of the Transition Coalition Food and Northern entrepreneurs Geert Lindenhols(GeertsBest) and Filips Jager(Hi I am Algae) who are already making successful strides in this transition. The spotlight will then be turned to two Northern programs, Fascinating and FoodPlus, where there is room for entrepreneurs to participate in research and implementation.

The second part of the program gives you a chance to become very concrete about how these Northern programs could help you further develop your innovative product, manufacturing process or service.

NOTE: this meeting is open to only 60 participants, so register quickly! Some time after registration you will receive notification from us whether a place has been reserved for you.

What's in it for me?

At the end of this afternoon you will go home with a handful of starting points to help your company successfully participate in this transition and thus work on sustainable growth of your business.

Unique location

This meeting will take place at a unique location: the Avebe Innovation Center (Zernikelaan 8, Groningen).

The innovation center pools knowledge and stimulates cooperation. In the center, Avebe employees will work on innovations in the field of potato starch and potato protein. Avebe has moved all its existing lab facilities to the new building on the Zernike Campus in Groningen.

In addition to its own space for offices and research for Avebe, the building also provides space for startups in the Innolab Agrifood, developed by Campus Groningen and partners. Innolab Agrifood encourages and facilitates entrepreneurship. It offers lab facilities as well as business support, including in the areas of business development, strategy, intellectual property and patenting.

Program May 12, 2022

12:00 - Lunch

12:30 - Start of plenary program

• What transition is going to take place
  Natascha Kooimans (Transition Coalition Food) paints a picture of the transition already underway and what lies ahead.

• What successes can be achieved
  Alex Berhitu talks with Northern entrepreneurs who have already made strides and discusses with them what steps are still to be made for them.

• • Geert Lindenhols, Arable Farmer and initiator behind Geert Best makes beautiful products with and from Rapeseed and Field Beans.
  • Filips Jager, CEO HiIamalgae, is convinced that microalgae farming is going to help us produce more plant proteins

• What else can we accomplish from the two Northern programs
  • Fascinating
  • FoodPlus
• Ceremonial moment

14.00 - Coffee Break

14.30 - Start parallel work sessions (2x 45 minutes of active work)

• FASCINATING(Food Agro Sustainable Circular Nature Technology in Groningen). Are you working on innovative technology applicable in the agri-food sector. Do you want to investigate feasibility, further develop or test the technology? Do you need raw materials, want to get in touch with corporations and future customers? Then join this 10-year testing and innovation program. To make the conversation concrete, in the breakout session we would like to explore ideas around "up-cycling" raw materials into functional products. We would like to hear what you would like to take up on this topic as well as what you need to get to implementation. In our breakout session during this event we would like to talk to you! If this topic is just not topical for you, but your field of work does fit within the scope of Fascinating, come along to discuss your wishes. Right now we would love to hear how we can be of value to you.
• FoodPlus (program to support food sector in border area Netherlands and Germany). Are you as an entrepreneur in the food sector looking for cooperation with both Dutch and German parties along our borders? Then take part in this session in which in we explore together what opportunities the Intereg project FOODPLUS can offer you. The transformation to a sustainable and healthy food system is what FOODPLUS is striving for. FOODPLUS does that by helping entrepreneurs who want to innovate in product or process innovation in the food sector. This session will focus on the food transition, one of which is protein in particular. You will receive answers to questions such as "what does the food transition entail", "what does this mean for me as an SME in the food sector" and "how do I get involved?".

16:15 - Networking drinks

17:00 - End

Sign up

Do you also want your company to successfully participate in this transition and thus work on sustainable growth of your business? Then sign up for this meeting on May 12, 2022 by filling out the form below.

NOTE: Due to limited availability, please note that your registration is not a confirmation of participation. We will let you know as soon as possible if we actually have a seat available for you.

This Food & Business event is made possible in part by our partners: