The Netherlands prioritizes sustainable food with new scale-up facilities

The Netherlands has further cemented its leadership in sustainable food production by launching two state-of-the-art cellular agriculture scale-up facilities. Announced on 14 January 2025, these facilities mark a pivotal step in advancing cellular agriculture, offering companies the resources needed to move beyond research and into scalable production. The projects are part of the 'Cellular Agriculture' initiative, backed by the National Growth Fund, and aim to enhance the global transition toward resilient and innovative food systems.

The new facilities include the Biotechnology Fermentation Factory (BFF) in Ede, focused on precision fermentation, and Cultivate at Scale (CaS) in Maastricht, dedicated to cell culture bioprocessing. Both facilities are open-access, allowing various companies to utilize their advanced infrastructure for research, development, and pilot-scale production.

Maresa Oosterman, Chair of the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Foundation (CAN), highlighted the importance of these initiatives. “These facilities are crucial for advancing cellular agriculture not only in the Netherlands but globally. They represent years of preparation and collaboration, enabling us to scale precision fermentation and cell culture while diversifying our protein sources.”

The Biotechnology Fermentation Factory, a collaboration between NIZO Food Research and other partners, focuses on advancing precision fermentation processes. Situated within NIZO’s existing infrastructure, the facility benefits from an established food-grade downstream processing (DSP) pilot plant, along with advanced analytical and commercialization support.

Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO, expressed his enthusiasm for the facility: “Our combined upstream and downstream capabilities offer unique opportunities to accelerate the protein transition. With this facility, we aim to facilitate the development of better food products that promote health and sustainability.”

Financial backing for the BFF includes a €5 million co-financing commitment from NIZO and additional support from the Dutch government and Oost NL, which manages the Perspectieffonds Gelderland B.V. This collaborative investment ensures that businesses leveraging the facility can access resources to optimize production processes efficiently.

Cultivate at Scale, a spin-out from Mosa Meat, focuses on scaling cell culture bioprocesses. The facility supports companies with batch production, leveraging expertise from Mosa Meat and a network of suppliers providing cell feed, cell lines, and bioreactors. The facility’s quality control processes and regulatory expertise have already contributed to multiple Novel Foods submission dossiers, highlighting its role as a key player in commercialization efforts.

Jaco van der Merwe, Managing Director of Cultivate at Scale, emphasized the broader impact: “This independent facility bridges the gap between research and scalable production. It represents a collaborative effort across the cellular agriculture ecosystem to support sustainable food innovation.”

The Netherlands has long been a pioneer in food production and biotechnology, with a history dating back over 150 years. This latest initiative builds on previous efforts, including public research programs at institutions like TU Delft, Wageningen University, and Maastricht University, as well as specialized education programs and collaborative networks.

The government’s investment underscores its commitment to creating a robust ecosystem for cellular agriculture. Initiatives like pre-approval tastings for cultivated food products and education programs aim to integrate cellular agriculture into mainstream food production. The ultimate goal is to enhance food security while reducing environmental impacts.

With the establishment of these facilities, the Netherlands reinforces its position as a global hub for cellular agriculture innovation. By removing barriers to scale-up, companies can focus on refining processes and commercializing their products. The collaboration between industry leaders, government entities, and research organizations demonstrates the power of partnership in addressing global challenges like sustainability and food security.

The development of these scale-up facilities not only benefits the Netherlands but also serves as a model for other nations seeking to advance cellular agriculture and precision fermentation. As the industry grows, these facilities will likely play a critical role in shaping the future of sustainable food systems.