Future ready food
Dutch innovation for the production of tasty, sustainable, and animal-friendly food
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Our work and investments in scientific research and academic education, and publications.
From scaling up to collaborating: pilot facilities, support, and tastings for businesses.
Information about cellular agriculture – for journalists, consumers, and students.
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About can
Connecting people, knowledge, and innovation to shape the future of cellular agriculture.
Cellular Agriculture Netherlands accelerates the development of cultivated meat and innovative fermentation in the Netherlands. We connect science, business, and society to enable a new generation of food production.
Frequently asked questions about cellular agriculture
People who can
Maresa Oosterman
Co-founder & President
Maresa worked as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on international sustainable cooperation with postings in Jakarta, New York, Rwanda, and Ghana. She worked at the United Nations on economic, social, and human rights issues and led large-scale sustainable development programs, including as Director of SDG Netherlands. Driven by her commitment to sustainability, Maresa co-founded CAN; as Chair of the Board, she contributes to the strategic development of the sector in the Netherlands.
Chantal Christis
Program Coördinator Education & Research
Chantal works at the intersection of academia, industry, and sector development. She is the Education and Research Program Coordinator for cellular agriculture at Delft University of Technology and is seconded to CAN in this capacity. Drawing on her background in industrial biotechnology, R&D management, and business development, Chantal connects and mobilizes knowledge institutions and companies to collaboratively shape the cellular agriculture sector in the Netherlands.
Tom van Duijn
Business Development Manager
Tom has a commercial background in consultancy, FMCG, and foodtech, with a strong focus on sustainable food innovation. He co-founded Plant FWD and held commercial and strategic roles dedicated to scaling up sustainable food innovations. At CAN, Tom connects companies, startups, scale-ups, and partners to accelerate growth, collaboration, and market development within the cellular agriculture ecosystem.
Ira van Eelen
Co-founder & Board Member
Ira is a leading advocate for cellular agriculture. She builds upon the work of her father, Willem van Eelen, a pioneer and the founding father of cultured meat. In addition to serving on the board of CAN, she works tirelessly—as Co-Founder & CEO of KindEarth.Tech and Co-Founder of RESPECTfarms—on the development and scaling of cellular agriculture in the Netherlands and globally. Within CAN, Ira focuses on fostering societal dialogue and increasing public engagement with cellular agriculture.
Tim van de Rijdt
Co-founder & Board Member
Coming from the technology sector, Tim’s love for burgers led him to Mosa Meat, where he has worked as Chief Business Officer since the company’s early days. In this role, he contributes to the organization’s strategic development and growth. Tim is a co-founder and board member of CAN, serving as treasurer while also focusing on community building and communications. He is also a board member of Cellular Agriculture Europe and the proud creator of BRRGR.com, an app for rating burgers.
Marcel Ottens
Director Research
Prof. Dr. Ir. Marcel Ottens is Professor of Bioprocess Engineering at Delft University of Technology and a leading voice in the field of bioprocessing and scale-up. As a board member of CAN, he played a key role in establishing the national Growth Fund program for cellular agriculture. Within CAN, Marcel is dedicated to strengthening research, scale-up, and funding for the sector.
René Wijffels
Director Education
Prof. Dr. Ir. René H. Wijffels is Professor of Bioprocess Engineering at Wageningen University & Research and an internationally leading expert in biomass production and bioprocesses. He leads large-scale applied research in close collaboration with industry and serves as the scientific director of the AlgaePARC pilot facility. At CAN, René is dedicated to firmly embedding cellular agriculture in education and knowledge development.
Cindy Gerhardt
Chair Supervisory Board
Cindy has a proven track record at the intersection of science, innovation, and business within the biotech and food-tech sectors. She has held senior R&D and innovation roles at international organizations and, as Managing Director of Planet B.io, is building an open innovation ecosystem for industrial biotechnology and food-tech in Delft. Cindy played a key role in developing the CAN Growth Fund proposal and now, as Chair of the Supervisory Board, focuses on strategic oversight, societal integration, and outreach regarding science and technology.
Will van den Tweel
Member Supervisory Board
Will has decades of experience leading international innovation and commercialization initiatives across the biotech, bio-based chemicals, food, and pharma sectors. He holds senior management and executive roles at startups, scale-ups, and international companies, and currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Those Vegan Cowboys. As a member of the Supervisory Board of CAN, Will brings extensive expertise in scaling up, business development, and strategic partnerships.
Peter Nieuwenhuizen
Member Supervisory Board
As a member of the Supervisory Board of CAN, Peter leverages his passion for chemistry and sustainability to accelerate the transition to a circular future. Holding a PhD in chemistry, he has built an impressive and multifaceted career—ranging from hands-on laboratory research and roles in sales, marketing, and strategic consultancy to executive positions in supply chain and innovation management. He also brings valuable expertise from the world of venture capital and green startups and scale-ups.
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