At F&A Next, industry leaders, innovators, and experts come together to explore the future of food and agriculture. Here are three must-see speakers who shape the future of agrifood through innovation, sustainability, and scientific breakthroughs.
1. Ana Piekarz – Transforming Food Systems Addressing Consumer Preferences and Policy Environment
As Director Global Nutrition at Kraft Heinz, Ana Piekarz leads the company’s nutrition strategy and portfolio transformation. Her international professional experience ranges from working in fast-paced, innovative, multi-nationals to conducting research at leading research hospitals and practicing as a Registered Dietician.
Ana’s professional experience has given her insight into product innovation and life cycle management, with a focus on the overall business and policy context. In addition to her career with Kraft Heinz, Ana is Chair of the Nutrition Advisory Board of the NGO Rise Against Hunger and a member of the European Technology Platform ‘Food for Life’ Leadership team.
Session: Exploring New Horizons in Agriculture through Artificial Intelligence
Thursday May 22, 15.05 – 15.45, Stage 2 (Auditorium)
2. Gert HJ Kema – A Breakthrough in Banana Disease Resistance
Emeritus Professor of Phytopathology at Wageningen University, Gert HJ Kema is a leading authority on plant pathology, specializing in foliar and vascular diseases of tropical crops, particularly bananas. With 40 years of experience in plant breeding and genetics, he has led groundbreaking research that has reshaped sustainable agriculture.
His latest work involves a breakthrough in developing disease-resistant banana plants. In collaboration with Chiquita, KeyGene, MusaRadix, and Wageningen University & Research, his team has used traditional crossbreeding and modern DNA analysis to accelerate the selection of resilient banana varieties—paving the way for the future of banana farming.
Session: Breakthrough in the Fight Against Devastating Banana Diseases: First Resistant Plant Developed
Wednesday May 21, 13.35 – 14.15, Stage 1
3. Alex Datema – Financing the Agricultural Transition
As Director of Food & Agri Netherlands at Rabobank, Alex Datema leads the bank’s vision for a sustainable agrifood sector. His role involves fostering partnerships between agricultural organizations, government entities, and value chain stakeholders to drive sustainability in food production.
Beyond banking, Alex is an advocate for biodiversity restoration and integral sustainable agriculture. He co-initiated the Dutch Deltaplan Biodiversity Restoration and serves on the Scientific Council for Integral Sustainable Agriculture. As a hands-on dairy farmer managing 120 cows, he brings both strategic vision and real-world experience to the table.
Session: Financing Challenges and Models to Enable the Transition to a Resilient Agricultural Food System
Thursday May 22, 12.50 – 13.30, Stage 1
