Internationalisering

Future Protein NL: World-class knowledge & development 

The Netherlands is an international figurehead in agri-food related knowledge. This ensures a highly skilled workforce with excellent command of the English language. Furthermore, there are many research facilities available for companies looking to test, trial, and upscale the production of their innovations.  

Onderzoek

NIZO is a private R&D centre focused on the development and application of innovations for the global food industry. Future Protein NL talked with Fred van de Velde, the Expertise Group Leader of Protein Functionality.  

What characterises the alternative protein ecosystem in the Netherlands? 

“The Netherlands is a protein country. We build on our  experience in the meat and dairy industry to find  practical solutions for  alternative proteins. Our ecosystem is characterized  by its comprehensiveness: we are experts in all parts of the supply chain and many different protein sources. We are frontrunners in scientific knowledge, the transition from ideas into practice, the production of crops, and the valorisation of residual flows.” 

What makes NIZO unique? 

“We are an independent and private organisation offering essential knowledge and facilities to companies looking to develop their product. Unlike in a public institution, clients at NIZO always retain ownership of their products and the results of studies do not have to be made publicly available. This makes NIZO the most suitable partner for clients looking to trial products without the risk of exposing sensitive information to other competitors. For the more fundamental science-based problems, we usually refer clients to universities”. 

What developments do you observe? 

“My focus is on solving the two major issues in alternative protein products: low solubility and off-flavour and taste. At NIZO, we use extraction and processing to obtain high-quality protein ingredients, whilst monitoring the properties and perception (texture and flavour) of the final product.  

In general, I see a trend of consumers increasingly demanding healthy and sustainable non-animal-based products, with a nutritional profile that matches the animal-based alternative. In this industry, fermentation and the Faba bean especially are receiving a lot of attention.” 

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) 

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is the beating heart of education, research, and development of alternative proteins. Founded in 1918, the WUR is on a mission to ‘explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. The WUR is a collaboration between the University and the nine Research  Institutes which  independently carry out application-oriented and field-based research. Future Protein NL met with Ariette Matser, expertise leader in Food Processing Technology at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research. 

“The Netherlands is a global leader in knowledge of proteins. For the past 100 years, we have focused on animal-based proteins, but in the last 15 years, we have made incredible progress in the field of alternative proteins. To make the protein shift happen, we have to focus on ingredients that are scalable and locally available. We need to continuously innovate in processing technologies to allow for milder processing, whilst creating tasteful and succulent products. 

WUR is part of a larger system, and we truly believe in finding holistic solutions together. We collaborate with other knowledge institutes and the private sector. To join scientists together to exchange knowledge, we have organised two scientific conferences about alternative proteins, and we have published an elaborate review on the latest status of meat analogues and alternative ingredients. We are increasingly focusing on multidisciplinary collaboration between knowledge domains. Connecting different research fields, such as technological innovations and consumer behaviour can create a substantial impact.” 

WUR is active in various domains of the protein shift. This includes research and development into plant breeding, food processing, policy, and consumer behaviour.  

Future Protein NL magazine 

This story was previously published in the Future Protein NL magazine. ‘Future Protein NL’ aims to inspire and inform you about what is going on the Netherlands in the field of alternative proteins. It also is an invitation to get in touch with us and join us in solving the global protein challenge together.  

The magazine outlines five main building blocks on which the ecosystem in the Netherlands relies: connectivity, innovation, a strong international company base, brands, and transitions. The system is supported by a strong foundation of education and skilled labour. 

The magazine is issued by Larive International to the East Netherlands Development Agency (Oost NL) Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Dutch Top Sector Agri & Food, Foodvalley NL / The Protein Cluster, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency and NL Branding. 

Click here to open the magazine fullscreen.