Pol van der Pluijm’s Post

🌱 Exciting news! The time has finally come for the SPOON project to kick off this December! 🎉 We're happy to be working with people across Europe and food decision-makers to drive innovation toward a more sustainable food system. 🌍🍽️ I’m particularly excited and honored to coordinate this project, in close collaboration with my colleagues Francesca Grossi, PhD and Zhao Cheng, as well as with a fantastic team and a partnership of 15 organizations from all over Europe. 🤝 Here’s a sneak peek into some of the topics we’ll address: 🔄 Food Waste: Tackling underlying causes and strategies to reduce waste 🏙️ Food Environments: Exploring how design influences consumer behavior and choices 🍽️ Food Insecurity: Examining access to sustainable and healthy food across diverse demographic groups 🔍 Transparency & Accountability: Assessing responsibility across the food supply chain and how such insights impact consumers’ food choices. We’re excited to embark on this journey toward a more just, sustainable, and resilient food future for everyone. 🌿 Stay tuned for more details and updates, including our project website and social media channels launching soon! 🔜 PNO Innovation (Spain) ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek) AIT Austrian Institute of Technology Science For Change incommon-Innovative Circular Open ITC - Innovation Technology Cluster Hot or Cool Institute HBK Braunschweig València Innovation Capital Jibe Company ICONS Innovation Strategies Comune di Torino De Republiek & Bruges Food Lab Rete delle Case del Quartiere ETS Δήμος Θεσσαλονίκης - Municipality of Thessaloniki #SustainableFood #Innovation #FoodSecurity #FoodWaste #SPOONProject #Collaboration #FutureOfFood 🌱

As a representative of the EIT Community RIS Hub Czechia, I had the opportunity to participate yesterday in the second National Bioeconomy Conference, organized by the BIOEAST HUB Czech Republic and Technologické centrum Praha, under the patronage of the Czech Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Marek Výborný. The conference focused on key topics in bioeconomy, including: 🔹 Funding opportunities provided by European partnerships to support innovations in bioeconomy. 🔹 Showcasing successful examples of best practices and innovative solutions in the field. 🔹 Discussing the necessity of a national bioeconomy strategy. Key stakeholders were represented, including the Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy (MŠMT), Ministerstvo zemědělství ČR, Technologické centrum Praha, Technologická agentura České republiky, Agentura pro zdravotnický výzkum ČR, and Národné lesnícke centrum - Lesnícky výskumný ústav Zvolen. Link to event program here: https://lnkd.in/em_gdnps The EIT Community actively engages in critical discussions shaping the future of bioeconomy in the Czech Republic. Our role is to connect innovators, foster cross-sectoral collaboration, and bring proven European approaches to address current societal challenges. 🌿 #Bioeconomy #Innovation #EITCommunity #Collaboration

As the agri-food tech ecosystem in Asia-Pacific grows, what investment opportunities exist to support climate adaptation? Our final panel of the day witnesses experts discussing strategies that investors can be adopt to fund innovations that make food systems more resilient to climate change.   Speakers on stage: Michal Klar, Better Bite Ventures Subhadeep Sanyal, Omnivore Claire Pribula, The Yield Lab Asia Pacific Leow Li-Vern, Seviora Sandhya Sriram, PhD, Sprout Agritech

🎄God Jul! Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! 🕯️ 2024 reminded me why I love being a bridge-builder in the bio-based economy. From launching major DTU - Technical University of Denmark initiatives to opening the Global Bioeconomy Alliance in Brazil, this year showed how connecting different worlds creates real impact. 🌱 3️⃣ Three transformative initiatives shaped our work: → Our new DTU Biosustain biosolutions program spanning sustainable materials, microbial foods, and net-zero agriculture - bringing together two years of preparation with outstanding colleagues worldwide → Expanding global partnerships through the Bioeconomy Alliance, experiencing firsthand how sustainability challenges differ between Nordic innovation hubs and emerging markets → Strengthening our innovation ecosystem through Creative Destruction Lab Berlin and #ACHEMA2024, supporting next-generation #biotechnology entrepreneurs 3️⃣ Three moments that particularly resonated with our community: "We are at a crossroads, argueably we are part of the problem and solution"  On launching DTU's new initiative with Novo Nordisk Foundation, focusing on #biosolutions that matter https://lnkd.in/dRAyxuGt "Visiting #Brasil makes you humble and considering, what economic and sustainability levers really matter" Perspective from Global Bioeconomy Alliance in São Paulo https://lnkd.in/djVqa6xB "Exceptional, inspiring and educational masterpiece of scientific communication" Celebrating breakthrough research in bio-fluorination at Prof. Pablo Ivan Nikel inauguration https://lnkd.in/dSM9tJk4 Looking to 2025: We're expanding our focus on three critical verticals: • Sustainable Materials - Building on 20+ years of expertise • Microbial Foods - Addressing global nutrition challenges • Net-Zero Agriculture - Partnering with farmers for impact But also my personal favorite: 🌞 IMPACT and INNOVATION at BRIGHT ❗ To everyone working to bridge gaps in the bio-based economy - whether in workflows, technologies, or minds - your work matters. Together, we're not just connecting worlds, we're building sustainable solutions for our shared future. #biosolutions #innovation #impact

Tom Collier of startup Levur and Dr Jerome Ramirez, Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioprocess Engineering at our QUT (Queensland University of Technology) node are representing the Centre at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore. 🌱✨ 🌾 This year's summit is dedicated to accelerating climate resilience and improving nutrition in Asia, a region responsible for producing over half of the world's food. 🌏🍎 The focus is on driving innovative solutions to address critical challenges in agriculture and food security. #CoESB #OurPeople #Conference #Innovation #Sustainability

🌍 On this #EarthDay, we're thrilled to dive into the insights from "Harvesting Change: Harnessing emerging technologies and innovations for agrifood systems transformation"! This groundbreaking report by FAO and CIRAD unveils key strategies for a sustainable agrifood future, particularly vital given the social and economic significance of the agricultural sector in most developing countries. 🚀 Embracing technological solutions: In the face of unprecedented challenges, technology emerges as a powerful catalyst for accelerating agrifood system transformation. From policy innovations to data-driven technologies, the report shows a spectrum of the 32 most promising solutions, meticulously categorized based on impact, timeline, and place of application. These innovations are even more crucial in emerging markets characterized by significant constraints. 🔍 Foresight methodologies to address the knowledge gap: By employing foresight methodologies, it navigates the complexities of emerging agrifood technologies offering insights into 5 future scenarios emphasizing timely adoption and integration of these innovations into real-world settings. This forward-looking approach informs long-term policy-making and guides investments in science, technology, and innovation (STI) towards resilience, ensuring a proactive stance in shaping our agrifood future. 🤝 Fostering collaborative action for impact: Recognizing the multifaceted nature of agrifood challenges, it emphasizes inclusive collaboration among stakeholders. Beyond technology, this call to action encompasses policy, social, and financial innovations, fostering transformative change. 🌱 In synthesizing these efforts, FAO and CIRAD outline a compelling vision of a future where technology, innovation, and policy converge synergistically to tackle the multidimensional challenges of agrifood systems. This convergence not only steers them towards sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity but also fosters a proactive and data-driven approach to shaping our agrifood future. ⬇️ Let's unite in paving the way for a sustainable agrifood future! Dive into the full report below and join us in driving impactful progress. 🌿 #EarthDay #Sustainability #Impact #AgriTech #FAO #CIRAD

#Biosolutions harness nature’s own tools to secure a sustainable future for us all. Powerful, yet not always easy to grasp for everyone. Today, Hans Eibe Sørensen is on the International Conference on “Biosolutions - in a European Perspective,” focusing on Biosolutions as a key driver in the green transition, with international forecasts predicting significant growth in this sector. Sofie Carsten Nielsen of European Biosolutions Coalition and DI - Dansk Industri states that the momentum is here, but we need to act fast—while maintaining patience to see it through. In short: Keep it simple. Repeat the message. It takes time to help decision-makers fully understand. Interesting program with for example, ALGIECEL Nordic microbes Ovodan Biotech A/S Arla Foods Novo Nordisk Foundation Teknologisk Institut Danmarks Eksport- og Investeringsfond Nordic Foodtech VC Alliance for Biosolutions Thanks for the event to Food & Bio Cluster Denmark Invest In Odense DI - Dansk Industri Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark Syddanske Forskerparker Life Science Fyn

D1.1 ENFASYS Conceptual Framework, is available on our website! 📝 This framework lays the foundation for understanding and driving transitions toward sustainable food systems by: 🌍 Applying systems thinking to uncover barriers and opportunities. 🌱 Exploring behavioural factors influencing farmers’ choices. 🏛️ Addressing public interventions like CAP policies. 🤝 Highlighting private strategies and social innovations. Rooted in the Multilevel Perspective (MLP) on sustainability transitions, it connects behavioural insights with systemic approaches for meaningful impact. 🌟 📥https://lnkd.in/dXFdNidH #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSystems #SystemsThinking #ENFASYS Rebekka Frick Robert Home ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek) CEJA Young Farmers The Association of Balkan Eco-Innovation GAIA ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ MBS School of Business NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research Université catholique de Louvain Institut de l'Elevage (idele) Sytra - UCLouvain Teagasc Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL

Free seminar alert: "How to effectively engage actors in transitions for sustainable impact?" A Symposium on Action Research in Food Systems Next October 15th, along with Flanders Business School - FBS and Sytra - UCLouvain, we are inviting you to reflect on the use of system, target and transformation knowledge in participative approach that is more and more considered as fundamental in transition. Some of our key questions : 🤓 What are your best practices in system, target and transformation knowledge use and production? What are the necessary conditions to progress, in a participative way, on those different knowledges? 👥 Which actors should be involved in such processes in terms of representation, personality, differences in worldviews, level of responsibility, etc.? Should only forerunners be involved or a larger set of stakeholders? 🤸♀️ What ambitions can be set and what processes can be used with groups of heterogenous composition? How can decisions be made? 👂 How to make sure that all voices are heard, also of those not present? 🧐 What roles can/should the researchers play in these processes in terms of convening and facilitation? 🤲 How to build trust and a sense of community? How to make sure that the community continues after the end of the project? If any of your experience or research tackles those aspects please join us! Abstracts welcomed until 15th September! (Very soon, hope to see you there) The event will take place in Antwerp in the Flanders Business School - FBS buildings. https://lnkd.in/er23QVyc

EBRC and the Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) are pleased to announce a special issue on Advancing Science & Technology Policy for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy. To support ideas and framing for potential submissions, a webinar “Policy and Governance for a Sustainable Bioeconomy,” will be held this Friday, December 20th at 1:00pm EST. This webinar will provide a deeper look at how biotechnologies provide advantages and opportunities to build a more sustainable world economy, including through cleaner practices for agriculture, manufacturing, and energy production, environmental stewardship and protecting biodiversity, and enhancing human health and well-being. Expert Panelists: - Georgia Lagoudas, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Brown University Pandemic Center - Michael Köpke, Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer, LanzaTech - Erin Rees Clayton, Ph.D., Senior Scientific Research Advisor, The Good Food Institute Moderated by: Hannah Frye, Ph.D., JSPG Director of Programs & Events and Senior Policy Advisor at the MIT Washington Office   Date: Friday, December 20th, 2024 Time: 1-2PM EST Register here: https://lnkd.in/etAvFkUk Submissions for the JSPG-EBRC Bioeconomy Special Issue are due on January 13, and submission information can be found https://lnkd.in/e_2byH7D. For any questions, please email Hannah Frye (hfrye@sciencepolicyjournal.org).