Power to the Partnership at Biotech for a Sustainable Future 2025
On Tuesday, we gathered the Dutch biotech community, at the KAS in Woerden, for the fourth edition of hollandbio’s Biotech for a Sustainable Future event. In an inspiringly green setting, participants from both industry and academia explored how biotech partnerships can create food and materials that are just as tasty, nutritious and robust as we’re used to, but with less impact on animals, nature and climate.
Hollandbio’s Wieteke set the tone for an interactive afternoon by inviting everyone to join a lively hollandbio domino game. Teams raced to connect their cards, sparking conversations and collaboration from the very start. A perfect warm-up for an afternoon dedicated to building bridges with a room full of people for progress!
Partnerships that make an impact
Julie Cortal (NoPalm Ingredients) and Lore Stormink (Royal Smilde Foods) showed a prototype of a palm-oil-free margarine and shared how strong partnerships unlock true innovation. Success often begins in R&D and flourishes when customers are willing to move quickly and invest early. Exclusivity, trust and shared ambition were recurring themes, underlining that collaboration is as much about relationships as it is about technology.
Next, Anker Sørensen (KeyGene) and Peter Bolijn (Chiquita) took us on a journey into the world of robust bananas. They reminded us how the famous Gros Michel banana vanished from global trade after Panama disease devastated plantations. Today, new threats like Fusarium TR4 and Black Sigatoka challenge the Cavendish variety. Their joint venture, Yelloway, is building a pipeline for disease-resistant bananas, aiming to protect farmers’ livelihoods while reducing chemical use and emissions.
Last but not least, Thomas van Mameren (ChainCraft) and Patrick van ’t Hof (Royal Avebe) explained how they connected through ‘potato juice’. Using a circular process, ChainCraft transforms Royal Avebe’s watery side streams into medium-chain fatty acids via mixed culture fermentation, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based fatty acids. It’s a win‑win-win, Royal Avebe reduces waste and energy use, ChainCraft produces high-value products and together they contribute to the climate transition. With success at the demo scale, they are now co-developing a full-scale facility next to Avebe’s site in Ter Apelkanaal.
Thank you for joining us!
Events like these show that real progress is made by people, by those who dare to innovate, collaborate, and build bridges across sectors. At hollandbio, we’re proud to unite a community of people for progress: entrepreneurs, scientists, and partners who turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. Let’s keep connecting, keep partnering, and keep moving forward. See you next year!
