Startups

F&A Next

F&A Next

 21 and 22 May, F&A Next sets the stage for a sustainable revolution in the food industry by showcasing ten of the world’s most innovative agrifoodtech startups. Harnessing cutting-edge technologies like precision fermentation, AI, and remote sensing, these entrepreneurs are ready to unveil their groundbreaking solutions live. The startups are divided into Pre-seed/Seed (early stage) […]

They are based in the same location–the Plus Ultra II building on the Wageningen University campus–and share a passion for accelerating technology and innovation in creating a sustainable food system. Each brings a different perspective, knowledge, and network to the F&A Next table. We are talking about StartLife, Foodvalley, and the Wageningen University & Research […]

speakers F&A Next 2025

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, […]

This is an article from our Catalyst Partner Invest-NL. Entrepreneurs with innovative and impactful ideas or products that aim to scale up often encounter barriers. Overcoming these challenges requires more than just funding. That is why, in addition to investing, Invest-NL focuses on market development and the development of innovative financial products. By leveraging specific […]

One of the secrets behind F&A Next’s success is the team of organizing partners. Five institutions, each bringing a different perspective and skillset to the table, but with a common interest in the future of food and agriculture. In this two-episode series, we sat down with them to reflect on their journey as part of […]

Emile van der Staak

Artisans, innovators, and opinion leaders. The impact of chefs goes way beyond the restaurant kitchen walls, argues Michelin-starred chef Emile van der Staak. “Chefs can create a new food culture, because they are excellent craftsmen and innovate on the job. When we use our mastermind to valorize a plant-based protein, one opens up to a […]

Next Heroes

A disrupting idea, a talented and motivated team of people, and hundreds of hours of work. That’s the story that many startups that passed through F&A Next have in common. Two such examples are our former Next Heroes in Food & Agtech Orbisk and Jord BioScience, thriving scaleups that recently raised millions of funding to […]

In 36 years of serving in the British army, Lieutenant General Richard Nugee experienced many conflict situations. In Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, to name a few. The last part of his military career was devoted to one special operation: reviewing the UK Defense’s climate change and sustainability approach.  Thanks to his work, he gained international […]

The global agrifood system faces mounting challenges—from climate change and environmental degradation to geopolitical tensions—threatening food security worldwide. Building resilience requires a transformative approach, adapting agriculture to climate impacts and driving sustainability in food production. Startups, scale-ups, investors, scientists, and corporates, but above all, collaborations between those are essential for accelerating innovation and driving impactful […]

In 2024, NL tech companies raised €3.1 billion in venture capital, up 47% from 2023, despite barriers to growth. The food sector did exceptionally well. It grew around 12% of the total VC investment and tripled its share of last year. Regarding the workforce, enterprise software leads employ 13% in the Netherlands, followed by food […]

F&A Next is the place for food and agriculture technology innovators to meet and connect, but it is also a moment to award some of the rising companies in this space. We offer 10 startups the unique opportunity to take the stage and present themselves to the audience as one of the world’s Next Heroes […]

Orbisk, a Dutch scaleup committed to reducing food waste using AI technology, has secured over €8 million in an oversubscribed Series A venture capital investment. The new partner, Regeneration VC, led the round and was co-led by the existing partner, PeakBridge. Other investors are new partner Kost Capital, early investors DOEN Participaties and Brabant Development […]

Revyve burger made with revyve ingredients
F&A Next Innovation partners Cosun and Oost NL team up to jointly invest €8M in Wageningen-based foodtech scaleup revyve to boost the development of sustainable, upcycled and local food ingredients, derived from byproducts of beer breweries.
All over the world, ambitious founders of startups aim to shape a healthy and sustainable food system with their novel technologies. This year, F&A Next has selected 10 of the world's most promising startups in Food & Agtech to pitch live on stage. Their solutions, which address new sources of proteins, valorize sidestreams, support healthy diets and more, exemplify the creativity and ingenuity that has global investors eager to place their bets on the agrifoodtech sector at large. Here’s a sneak peek at who they are.
The free Our Future Proteins – A Diversity of Perspectives book is out now. It compiles the views of 100+ experts on the transition to sustainable protein. The book explores a wide range of directions. It looks at rethinking protein production systems and taking a pragmatic approach to balancing global and local supply chains. Thanks to the variety of views, Our Future Proteins gives an overview of a dynamic transition. Four of the editors are associates of Wageningen University and Research, a founding partner of F&A Next.