Public

CAN actively works to share information about cellular agriculture with the public. Whether you are a journalist, student, entrepreneur, livestock farmer, or scientist, there are likely questions we can help clarify.

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Food industry

The rise of cellular agriculture offers new opportunities for the food industry.

Innovations in products using cell culture and precision fermentation make it possible to produce high-quality proteins and ingredients in a sustainable, scalable, and flexible manner. For companies in the food sector, this means:

responding more quickly to changing consumer demand
diversifying product portfolios
contributing to a circular and future-proof food system.

Scale-up facilities in the Netherlands offer the food industry direct access to the infrastructure, knowledge, and expertise needed to test, optimize, and implement new production processes on a large scale. By collaborating with start-ups and scale-ups, food companies can accelerate innovation while simultaneously mitigating the risks associated with large-scale scaling.

Together, we are strengthening the Netherlands’ position as a frontrunner in sustainable protein production and technological innovation within the food industry.

To find out more, please feel free to contact us or sign up for one of our events.

Press

Are you working on an article, interview, or feature story about cultivated meat, precision fermentation, or the development of the Dutch cellular agriculture sector? CAN is happy to assist.

We provide insights into technological developments, the policy landscape, education and research programs, and the scaling-up infrastructure in the Netherlands.

In addition, we can connect journalists with scientists, companies, and other experts within the ecosystem.

For press inquiries, interview requests, or further information, please contact:
Ira van Eelen at ira@cellulaireagricultuur.nl or +316-53460633.

School students

Are you working on a school project or research assignment about cultured meat, precision fermentation, or the future of food?

Cellular agriculture is a rapidly evolving field at the intersection of biology, technology, sustainability, and economics, making it a fascinating and timely topic for students.

Possible angles for your project

How does cultivating animal cells in a bioreactor work?
What are the differences between cultured meat and plant-based meat alternatives?
What role does genetic modification play in precision fermentation?
What are the environmental impacts of cellular agriculture compared to traditional livestock farming?
What is the approval process for new food products in Europe?
What economic opportunities does this sector offer the Netherlands?

Gathering information

To create a high-quality project, you can use:

Scientific publications and university websites
Reports on sustainability and the food transition
Interviews with researchers or companies in the sector
Reliable news sources covering biotechnology and innovation

Our website provides information on research, education, and scaling up within the Dutch sector. Additionally, our publications page lists relevant scientific articles. Check our FAQs for answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Agricultural sector

The agricultural sector has played a crucial role in our food supply for generations.

At CAN, we believe that the next step in protein production will be taken not in place of the agricultural sector, but together with it.

Global demand for protein is growing rapidly. At the same time, farmers and other agricultural entrepreneurs face challenges regarding sustainability, land use, nitrogen emissions, animal welfare, and economic viability. Cellular agriculture—the production of animal proteins and fats through cell culture and fermentation—offers new opportunities to address these challenges collaboratively.

Collaboration as a starting point

We view farmers, livestock producers, and other agricultural entrepreneurs as essential partners in the development of these new production methods. Their expertise in animal health, breeding, nutrition, land use, and supply chain organization is indispensable for the successful integration of cellular protein production into the Dutch food system.

Cellular production can contribute to new revenue models, greater diversification within agricultural businesses, and more efficient use of resources. At the same time, it can help reduce environmental impact and strengthen the Netherlands’ leading international position as an agrifood innovator. Combining technological innovation with practical experience creates a future-proof outlook for rural entrepreneurs.

A practical example

RespectFarms is a prime example of what such collaboration can look like. This initiative is developing a model in which farmers play an active role in the production of cellular proteins.

Under this concept, farm animals remain a valuable source of protein but are no longer primarily used for large-scale meat or milk production. Instead, they provide cells—in an animal-friendly manner—that are subsequently cultivated in controlled environments. In this model, farmers remain involved in animal husbandry and genetics, animal welfare takes center stage, and the environmental impact per kilogram of protein produced can be significantly reduced. New technology is integrated into existing agricultural structures, ensuring that innovation is not detached from real-world practice but builds directly upon it.

A future-proof agricultural sector

CAN aims to collaborate with farmers, industry organizations, cooperatives, knowledge institutions, and policymakers on:

Practical pilots and demonstration projects
Research into farm-level integration
Training and knowledge sharing
Policy development in which farmers play a central role

Our ambition is to develop cellular agriculture in a way that is economically viable, socially supported, and rooted in agriculture.

Let’s talk

Are you curious about what cellular agriculture could mean for your business? Or would you like to explore how we might collaborate? We would love to hear from you.

Contact us at info@cellulaireagricultuur.nl. Together, we are working on the protein production of the future—with respect for farmers, animals, and the environment.