Workshop | Accelerating Europe’s Next-Gen Protein Industry

As Europe moves toward a more resilient and sustainable food future, this session will explore

how strategic collaboration and innovation-driven partnerships are accelerating the

development of the next-generation protein industry. Bringing together leading voices from

academia, industry, and policy, it will spotlight how cross-border cooperation and public–

private partnerships are redefining how innovative food is developed, scaled, and brought to

market.

This session will feature pioneering examples such as Pentasweet’s breakthroughs in precision

fermentation for sustainable sweeteners, Biohifas’ biotech innovations in protein production,

and Innovation Agency Lithuania’s Sandbox project, designed as a real-world testing ground for

novel food solutions.

The program will culminate with a dynamic panel discussion, “From MoUs to Meals:

Accelerating Europe’s Next-Gen Protein Industry,” featuring experts from Lithuania and the

Netherlands. The discussion will highlight how cross-border collaboration and national

initiatives, such as tastings and the Sandbox project, can accelerate the journey from pilot

ideas to market-ready products and build trust in Europe’s food innovation ecosystem.