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Our inspiring
program for 2025
By the Plant FWD partners
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Lotte Sluiter
Head of Program
Plant FWD
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Marcel van der Heijden
Founder
Plant FWD
Buckle up! This is what Plant FWD has in store for you this year.
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Lotte Sluiter
Head of Program
Plant FWD
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Marcel van der Heijden
Founder
Plant FWD
The essentials of fundamental positive change
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Harald Friedl
Circular Economist
Not to sound clingy, but change NEEEEEDS you. Harald Friedl dove deep into circular transition and the circular economy to gain insights into fundamental positive change. During his talk, he explains what transition requires from you as a person and professional. Come in with an open mind and heart.
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Harald Friedl
Circular Economist
4 gaps in our transition & the opportunities they offer
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Anna-Louisa Peter
PhD Researcher
TU Delft
We love hybrid innovation! But PhD-er Anne-Louise Peeters believes we need something bigger to bridge the gaps in our transition. And yes, that includes admitting that eating less meat and dairy is just painful as fuck! Want to learn more about four important gaps in this transition and the opportunities they offer? This is a keynote not to be missed!
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Anna-Louisa Peter
PhD Researcher
TU Delft
A European Market Update
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Joost Slagt
Commercial Director
Circana
Every conference needs a numbers geek to offer some perspective. So, we’ve got a really good one: Joost Slagt from the market research agency Circana. Joost offers a super quick update on the European market, covering the differences in sales between categories and marketing mixes. And we peek into the future with some upcoming trends.
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Joost Slagt
Commercial Director
Circana
How do we pay for this plant-forward transition?
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Jacqueline van den Ende
Co-founder & CEO
Carbon Equity
Are we going to split the bill like we do on an okay first date? Or who will be paying for our food transition? One of the most innovative, smart, and financially eloquent women out there, Jacqueline van den Ende, shares her knowledge about financially fuelling (plant-based) transition.
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Jacqueline van den Ende
Co-founder & CEO
Carbon Equity
Enjoy a delicious plant-based lunch, taste the latest innovations and build valuable connections at The Market
Have a taste of the future! In our 1.000m2 Market experience, you can browse through the latest food innovations and the best plant-forward discoveries. You saw – and tasted – it first at Plant FWD.
Breaking Silos: An Ecosystem Approach to the Protein Transition
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Gauri van Gulik
Fellow
School for Moral Ambition
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Olivia Hicks
Fellow
School for Moral Ambition
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When Rutger Bregman & his team were searching for the challenges where the most impact could be made for a better world, it was moving towards more plant-based that came out on top. They selected the smartest people and made them work on it for a year. We have the privilege to serve up the first sneak peaks of their quest! And guess what - The shift to more sustainable proteins isn’t just about innovation—it’s about changing the entire system. Ecosystem thinking is essential. In this interactive session you’ll find out how finance, policy, and unexpected coalitions can work together to drive real change.
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Gauri van Gulik
Fellow
School for Moral Ambition
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Olivia Hicks
Fellow
School for Moral Ambition
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What businesses can learn from chefs
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Glory Kabe
Afro Vegan Chef
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Nicolas Aquaa
Chef & Founder
The Jollof Club
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Let’s make change irresistible! Three innovative chefs are here to help. Afro-vegan chef Glory Kabe (FR) and upcoming star Nicky Aquaa (NL) discuss their mission to make African cuisine shine by combining flavours from home with classic French techniques. 2-star restaurateur Sebastian Frank shares his love for vegetables and explains why he still uses pork fat along with all the greens.
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Glory Kabe
Afro Vegan Chef
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Nicolas Aquaa
Chef & Founder
The Jollof Club
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5 international start-ups pitch their plant-forward plans
Wanna know what the future holds? Out of the hundred start-ups that applied for our Start-up Program, we've selected the ten most promising brands to come and pitch. And you are their audience! Meet the frontrunners and innovators in all things plant-forward.
The new protein narrative?!
What's a new international protein narrative and what opportunities does it offer to companies and governments? Be inspired by best practices from partners of The Protein Community and share your vision.
Revitalize yourself with a delicious coffee or tea and some delicious plant-based sweets before we head into the final part of day 1.
Pick one of three inspiring talks during our second round of break-out sessions!
The narrative that could unite left & right
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Klaas Dijkhoff
Founder at SUE & The Alchemists
SUE
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Tobias Leenaert
Co-Founder
ProVeg International
In Denmark, they did it: unite politicians from both sides of the spectrum with a plan to go plant-forward. And it was granted a mind-boggling funding of 1 billion DKK! Could we do the same here? In this open brainstorm, we ask everyone to join in while politicians Klaas Dijkhoff and writer Tobias Leenaert share insights from their respective fields of expertise. This session is moderated by Linda Vermaat.
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Klaas Dijkhoff
Founder at SUE & The Alchemists
SUE
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Tobias Leenaert
Co-Founder
ProVeg International
The power of the supermarket & making proteins out of thin air
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Tom Carter-Foster
CEO & Co-Founder
Cherrypick
What’s new, you ask? You will find your answer at Innovation Hour. We champion Solar Foods which produces proteins out of thin air. Say what? Yes, our thoughts exactly. Meanwhile, Tom Foster-Carter makes eating healthy as easy as possible with Cherrypick. The app helps you pick tailor-made meals, makes your grocery list, finds the cheapest supermarket near you, and gets the ingredients right to your doorstep.
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Tom Carter-Foster
CEO & Co-Founder
Cherrypick
Making change while serving millions in food service
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Bastiaan van Asten
Vice President Commercial
HMSHost International
Together, many can make a huge change. During this panel, we speak with businesses that serve many – MANY! – people every day. Schiphol's largest caterer is brutally honest about its efforts to make an impact. And Postillion Hotels may seem a bit traditional, but they had the guts to go fully plant-based in every single one of their hotels. How did they make that happen?
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Bastiaan van Asten
Vice President Commercial
HMSHost International
Investor matchmaking sessions (invite only)
(Y)our future starts here? Ten international start-ups from the ‘Accelerate in the Netherlands: Protein Edition’ meet one-on-one with investors and buyers. To fund the future. Invitation only.
Looking back on an inspiring day with new and existing friends while enjoying a drink and delicious plant-based snacks.
Buckle up! This is what Plant FWD has in store for you this year.
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Tom van Duijn
Co-founder
Plant FWD
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Marcel van der Heijden
Founder
Plant FWD
Buckle up! This is what Plant FWD has in store for you this year.
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Tom van Duijn
Co-founder
Plant FWD
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Marcel van der Heijden
Founder
Plant FWD
How will we eat in 2050? The Eat Lancet Dietary Guidelines tried to plate up the answer. And fully updated guidelines are coming very soon. Chief Science Officer Fabrice De Clerck serves up all there is to know about Eat Lancet 2.0.
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Fabrice DeClerk
Science Director
EAT
How will we eat in 2050? The Eat Lancet Dietary Guidelines tried to plate up the answer. And fully updated guidelines are coming very soon. Chief Science Officer Fabrice De Clerck serves up all there is to know about Eat Lancet 2.0.
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Fabrice DeClerk
Science Director
EAT
Imagine a world where farmers are the new heroes, nature is replenished, and the ROI of agriculture is better than ever. And by doing so, we’ve created space for many other transitions. Based on the report Land Inzicht, Marjan Minnesma (Director Urgenda) paints a picture of a more plant-forward version of the Netherlands.
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Marjan Minnesma
Director
Urgenda
Imagine a world where farmers are the new heroes, nature is replenished, and the ROI of agriculture is better than ever. And by doing so, we’ve created space for many other transitions. Based on the report Land Inzicht, Marjan Minnesma (Director Urgenda) paints a picture of a more plant-forward version of the Netherlands.
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Marjan Minnesma
Director
Urgenda
Some talks deserve a follow-up. So, we discuss ‘Land Inzicht’ with a politician, farmer, and Marjan Minnesma herself. Can this utopian solution become reality? Mark Venner is a third-generation dairy farmer who boldly switched to agroforestry farming. He's the largest in the Netherlands and one of the frontrunners in Europe. But what about the political side of things? Final panellist to be announced soon.
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Mark Venner
Agroforestry boer
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Some talks deserve a follow-up. So, we discuss ‘Land Inzicht’ with a politician, farmer, and Marjan Minnesma herself. Can this utopian solution become reality? Mark Venner is a third-generation dairy farmer who boldly switched to agroforestry farming. He's the largest in the Netherlands and one of the frontrunners in Europe. But what about the political side of things? Final panellist to be announced soon.
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Mark Venner
Agroforestry boer
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Eschar Ben Shitrit loves meat. But he loves his kids – and their future – far more. It’s what pushed him, as a co-founder of Redefine Meat, to take a leap with 3D-printed meat substitutes. The taste and texture got us – and many others – gob-smacked. It’s how Redefine Meat made its way into kitchens all around the world. From Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants to corner store food shacks. But it was a bumpy road to get there.
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Eschar Ben Shitrit
CEO
Redefine Meat
Eschar Ben Shitrit loves meat. But he loves his kids – and their future – far more. It’s what pushed him, as a co-founder of Redefine Meat, to take a leap with 3D-printed meat substitutes. The taste and texture got us – and many others – gob-smacked. It’s how Redefine Meat made its way into kitchens all around the world. From Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants to corner store food shacks. But it was a bumpy road to get there.
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Eschar Ben Shitrit
CEO
Redefine Meat
Yes, we are shaking things up with unconferencing, we are about to build a spontaneous panel! Yes, initiated by the one and only YOU! All topics are welcome, the public will vote for it's favourite, and we will set up the panel live - right there and then. You could be on stage. So if you're missing a topic or speaker in our program this is your delicious chance to shine.
Yes, we are shaking things up with unconferencing, we are about to build a spontaneous panel! Yes, initiated by the one and only YOU! All topics are welcome, the public will vote for it's favourite, and we will set up the panel live - right there and then. You could be on stage. So if you're missing a topic or speaker in our program this is your delicious chance to shine.
Have a taste of the future! In our 1.000m2 Market experience, you can browse through the latest food innovations and the best plant-forward discoveries. You saw – and tasted – it first at Plant FWD.
Have a taste of the future! In our 1.000m2 Market experience, you can browse through the latest food innovations and the best plant-forward discoveries. You saw – and tasted – it first at Plant FWD.
Pick one of three inspiring talks during our first round of break-out sessions!
Pick one of three inspiring talks during our first round of break-out sessions!
Let's be real here: eating meat is still very much the norm. And habits are hard to change. Jenny Arthur and Marleen Onwezen know all about it. As experts in food service and retail, they are the very best scientists to offer extensive insights and success stories on consumer behaviour. Including the age-old question when going more plant-led: to tell or not to tell?
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Jenny Arthur
Head of Coolfood
World Resource Institute
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Marleen Onwezen
Professor Consumer Behaviour
Wageningen University & Research
Let's be real here: eating meat is still very much the norm. And habits are hard to change. Jenny Arthur and Marleen Onwezen know all about it. As experts in food service and retail, they are the very best scientists to offer extensive insights and success stories on consumer behaviour. Including the age-old question when going more plant-led: to tell or not to tell?
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Jenny Arthur
Head of Coolfood
World Resource Institute
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Marleen Onwezen
Professor Consumer Behaviour
Wageningen University & Research
It's time to team up in retail! And these front runners are here to share their knowledge. Tesco UK (Fay Hasnip) and Lidl NL (Chantal Goenee) delve into their wins and failures when it comes to boosting plant-based sales, and Lara Sibbing from Questionmark will serve up the challenging questions. This panel kicks off with a scoop: Jessie van Hattum shares the results of the Eiweet Monitor NL, which features all major Dutch supermarket chains.
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Fay Hasnip
Product Development Manager
Tesco UK
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Chantal Goenee
Advisor Sustainability & Health
LIDL
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It's time to team up in retail! And these front runners are here to share their knowledge. Tesco UK (Fay Hasnip) and Lidl NL (Chantal Goenee) delve into their wins and failures when it comes to boosting plant-based sales, and Lara Sibbing from Questionmark will serve up the challenging questions. This panel kicks off with a scoop: Jessie van Hattum shares the results of the Eiweet Monitor NL, which features all major Dutch supermarket chains.
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Fay Hasnip
Product Development Manager
Tesco UK
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Chantal Goenee
Advisor Sustainability & Health
LIDL
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Wanna know what the future holds? Out of the hundred start-ups that applied for our Start-up Program, we've selected the ten most promising brands to come and pitch. And you are their audience! Meet the frontrunners and innovators in all things plant-forward.
Wanna know what the future holds? Out of the hundred start-ups that applied for our Start-up Program, we've selected the ten most promising brands to come and pitch. And you are their audience! Meet the frontrunners and innovators in all things plant-forward.
Eat your talk! Major employers can be the change we are all looking for, and they have the power to do so. In this session, you'll find out the finest examples of Amsterdam's bosses around and what their strategies are to changing the food game internally.
Eat your talk! Major employers can be the change we are all looking for, and they have the power to do so. In this session, you'll find out the finest examples of Amsterdam's bosses around and what their strategies are to changing the food game internally.
This talk pops that safe little bubble of ours. Discover what we all could learn from Indigenous communities, both in their relationship with nature and how they thrive by working together. We invited the widely honoured photographer Jimmy Nelson to share his story about these communities from all around the world.
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Jimmy Nelson
Photographer
Jimmy Nelson Studio
This talk pops that safe little bubble of ours. Discover what we all could learn from Indigenous communities, both in their relationship with nature and how they thrive by working together. We invited the widely honoured photographer Jimmy Nelson to share his story about these communities from all around the world.
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Jimmy Nelson
Photographer
Jimmy Nelson Studio
Looking back on an inspiring day with new and existing friends while enjoying a drink and delicious plant-based snacks.
Looking back on an inspiring day with new and existing friends while enjoying a drink and delicious plant-based snacks.