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Through our matching program, you will also be connected with experts who can support you directly on these topics and even beyond. Whether it’s legal advice, finding the right producer, or specialized sector challenges. Our mission: matching you to expertise that moves your business forward.

Hand holding fresh rosemary and kale against a bright blue sky, symbolizing local, sustainable food at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

THINK GLOBAL
EAT LOCAL

THINK GLOBAL
EAT LOCAL

Bringing global food innovations to local, sustainable markets.

Tweeinnovators in gesprek tijdens een informeel netwerkmoment bij de Food Business Conference.

MATCHING

MATCHING

Meet and connect with leading food, agri & seafood professionals worldwide.

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INNOVATION

INNOVATION

Showcasing the latest breakthroughs in food technology and sustainable production.

A speaker presents at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands. Attendees listen attentively.

TRENDS
& TOOLS

TRENDS
& TOOLS

Insights and strategies shaping the future of food, agri and seafood.

the food business conference

a catalyst for innovation, growth and connection in the food chain for the food, agri & Seafood sector.

2025 : FOOD INNOVATORS EDITION

For the first time, we joined forces with Food Innovators, a partner that, like FBC, believes in the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration within the food supply chain.

This joint edition marked a new chapter in which we not only inspired but also activated. By combining our networks, knowledge, and experience, we amplified each other’s impact.

It provided direct access to leading insights, expanded participants’ knowledge and expertise, inspired them with the latest innovations, and connected them with industry leaders, suppliers, and investors from the Netherlands and abroad.

The program featured a powerful plenary session, complemented by interactive themed sessions.

The conference program was conducted in English. As most speakers were Dutch, participants were welcome to ask questions in Dutch, which the speakers understood without difficulty.

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Sander Peltenburg from Rabobank at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

Speaking the Banker’s Language

Sander Peltenburg

A strong plan needs support, but how do you truly convince financiers? In this workshop, Sander Peltenburg reveals what makes a proposal succeed. Learn the do’s and don’ts, explore the funding landscape from banks to new capital forms, and gain tips you can apply immediately. From now on, you will be able to speak not only your own language, but also clearly the language of the financier.

Pepijn Ox from Broccoli at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

Equity for healthy growth

Pepijn Ox

Innovation is essential in the food, agri & seafood sector. Yet many pioneers struggle with traditional financiers, who simply don’t match the speed and freedom required to drive real change. This can, and must, be different. With Broccoli, we connect the pioneers of tomorrow with the investors of today. The last four years €50 million invested in more than 30 companies.

Curious how this could work for your business, or how you can contribute to the next step in food & agri? We look forward to meeting you. 🥦

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Seafood & Innovatie: LESSONS FROM A GLOBAL INDUSTRY

Rein Brands

The seafood sector in Urk, with an annual volume of € 4.5 billion, is one of the silent engines of the Dutch economy and the global protein transition. In this session, you will discover how the industry is leading the way with AI, robotics, and automation in processing and logistics, new protein concepts such as hybrid fish, smart water management, reuse of residual streams, and a strong focus on sustainability and circular production.

Headshot of 2 speakers at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Brands in the Age of AI: intelligent Marketing/PR

Dimitry Loiseau & Carolina Riffi Ollite

How do you build a food brand that truly stands out and endures over time? Dimitry Loiseau (LA) and Carolina Riffi Ollite share American insights on branding, storytelling and PR. From free publicity to AI-marketing, plus protecting your brand, recipes, innovations and using available subsidies. You will learn how to grow (inter)nationally. An inspiring session designed for ambitious food, agri & seafood entrepreneurs ready to expand.

Smiling woman at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.  Focus on sustainable food innovation.

Voucher Consultation Session

Willeke Waller

Active in food, agri & seafood and ready to innovate? Discover in the voucher consultation session how knowledge and development vouchers can help move your business and innovation forward. You’ll gain insight into what these regulations entail, who can apply for them, and how to make the most of them. Ask your questions directly and get a clear view of the opportunities for your business. Practical, accessible, and a chance to accelerate and strengthen your innovation.

Headshot of 2 speakers at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Export Fails: Developing an export strategy that doesn't suck

Eric Hanson & Jacqueline Kuiper

Going abroad with your company can be scary. In this session we will review some of history's biggest export failures: from start-ups to multinationals who didn't do enough research and lost thousands or even millions. Then we will discuss how to use a canvas framework to identify the most promising markets and how to navigate the transition from incidental to structural international business.

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

from waste to worth

Jon Scobey

Chefs are passionate about taste and creativity, but the true challenge is building a sustainable kitchen. Learn how fermentation, pickling and preserving can limit large-scale food waste. With circular production, smart planning and the right mindset you can create lasting impact. Together with INSTOCK and Too Good To Go we give food a second chance and share inspiring, practical ways to reduce waste.

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Finding your business focus! 

Jeroen van IJzerloo

Many food, agri & seafood cultural entrepreneurs start with a great idea, but who is truly their customer? In this workshop, Jeroen van IJzerloo guides you through the Business Model Canvas, tailored to the food, agri & seafood sector. You will discover promising customer segments, sharpen your strategy, and develop a clear and compelling value proposition. You will also learn how to test whether your target audience is willing to pay. A practical, hands-on session designed to bring clarity and strengthen your business strategy.

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Strategic Partnerships

Anke Bun

How do you build partnerships that really work? In this session, Anke Bun reveals what makes collaborations succeed, how to identify promising opportunities, and how to start conversations that lead to strong long-term relationships. Practical, inspiring and actionable, this is a must-attend session for entrepreneurs eager to grow faster and smarter with the right strategic partners.

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

The HR Desk

Margreta Barten

What can HR professionals do to attract, retain and develop talent effectively? In three interactive 60-minute workshops you’ll gain practical tools: recruit with a solid process, retain through training and growth conversations, and access up-to-date insights at the HR helpdesk. Packed with tips and tricks to strengthen your HR strategy immediately. Sign up now and boost your HR advantage.

Headshot of a speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Effective Negotiation

Sabine Beuk

Negotiation does not have to feel pushy or uncomfortable. In this 60-minute workshop, Sabine Beuk introduces an authentic approach that builds trust, creates lasting value and strengthens long-term business relationships. Through practical tools, live exercises and group discussions you will learn how to negotiate with more confidence, integrity and results that make a real difference over time.

Speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

STRENGTHENING REGIONAL FOOD CHAINS

CARLO VERHART

How can regional food chains become more resilient, ecologically, socially, economically, and even geopolitically? In this workshop, we explore practical ways farmers, consumers, and supply-chain partners can collaborate digitally to match supply and demand, share trustworthy data, and coordinate decisions in real time. You’ll learn which tools and partnerships create the most value locally, how to build transparency without losing autonomy, and what steps you can take tomorrow to make your chain more adaptive, fair, and future-proof.

Speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

FAIR CHANCES FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS

STIJN SPRENKELS

How to align your planting plans before a single seed is sown? Almere-based entrepreneur and Social Farmer co-founder Stijn Sprenkels shows how their platform supports small food producers in doing exactly that. He takes you from idea to implementation, sharing choices made along the way. His drive? Using technology for social impact, creating fair opportunities for small producers and building a transparent, sustainable food chain.

Speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

PROTEIN TRANSITION: DRIVERS TRANSLATED INTO BUSINESS CHOICES

RAMON VAN DER TOL

As Rabobank’s Sector Manager for Arable Farming, Ramon van der Tol works closely on major transitions in agriculture, including the protein shift. He outlines the key drivers; pressure on farmland, rising global food demand and changing consumer behaviour and translates them into actionable business decisions. He explains how Rabobank supports entrepreneurs with knowledge, investment advice and new financing instruments. He also highlights the role of innovations such as fermentation and hybrid protein products.

Robert van den Breemer from Those Vegan Cowboys at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

From cows to cowboys

Robert van den Breemer

Robert van den Breemer has a unique background: from a family with more than five generations of dairy farmers, a trained philosopher, a developer of food forests, and a former strategy consultant & Head of Sustainability at one of the world’s largest animal feed companies. He talks about his personal transition, how he joined Those Vegan Cowboys, and how he aims to convey his vision there.

Speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

Provincial food strategy

Sharon de Miranda

Flevoland is home to pioneering entrepreneurs and outstanding food products. Our fertile polder offers endless opportunities for young talent and innovation. Together, we celebrate these achievements and highlight the people and products that make our province unique.

Willem Sodderland from Scaling Up Pro at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

Some Seaweed, we Seamore

Willem Sodderland

Willem shares his journey with Seamore: how a dinner at a restaurant in Ibiza led to a company that put seaweed on the map worldwide; how a small startup spooked the CEOs of the largest food companies; and how a success story on the outside was an incredible struggle behind the scenes. In an interactive talk—with plenty of exchange with the audience—Willem shares what he learned most from, unapologetically honest about the good, the bad and the ugly.

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Acceleration Tables

Food Innovators

This session focuses on acceleration: an entrepreneur shares a real challenge and engages with a panel of financiers, experts and market players. Expect sharp questions, concrete advice and practical insights. In just one hour you gain a unique view of entrepreneurship and leave with directly applicable ideas to strengthen your business and move it forward with greater clarity and direction.

The speakers of the last edition 2025

Toon van Dijk speaker at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

Deputy

Toon van Dijk

After an inspiring conference day, we conclude with a walking network dinner at the atmospheric Proeflokaal in Almere. During this dinner, made possible in part by Provincie Flevoland, deputy Toon van Dijk will gather questions, challenges, and aspirations for the future. This evening program offers a dynamic blend of networking and culinary experience: while enjoying a walking dinner, you can deepen conversations, meet new people, and engage with partners and experts about your questions and ideas.

A relaxed yet inspiring conclusion to the day, centered on connection, exchanging experiences, and looking ahead together to new possibilities.

Walking dinner - proeflokaal (17:00-19:00)

LEARN FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS. ENGAGE WITH PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOU!

The Food Innovators edition of the Food Business Conference was a conference for professional entrepreneurs in the food, agri & seafood sector. It provided participants with cutting-edge insights, expanded their knowledge and expertise, inspired them with innovations, and connected them with industry leaders, suppliers, and investors worldwide. Besides keynotes and networking, this edition offered our trusted theme sessions and matching program on key topics:

  • Know-how

  • Network

  • Finance

  • Matching

  • HR

  • Innovation

  • Marketing/PR

  • Subsidy/Vouchers

  • Intellectual property

  • International business

After an inspiring conference, we concluded with a walking network dinner at the atmospheric Proeflokaal in Almere. In this informal setting, attendees deepened conversations, met new people, and engaged with partners and experts about their questions and ideas. It was a relaxed and inspiring conclusion to the day centered on networking, sharing experiences, and looking ahead together to new opportunities.

Through our upcoming matching program in November, participants will be connected with experts who can support them directly on these topics and beyond whether it’s legal advice, finding the right producer, or tackling specialized sector challenges. Our mission remains the same: matching entrepreneurs with expertise that moves their businesses forward.

PARTNERS

Aerial shot of Dutch farmland near Almere, symbolizing sustainable food production at the Food Business Conference.

PROGRAM of the last edition 2025

  • 09:30 – Arrival & Registration

  • 10:00 – Opening Presentation

  • 11:00 – First Workshop

  • 12:00 – Lunch (included in ticket)

  • 13:00 – Second Workshop

  • 14:00 – Third Workshop

  • 15:00 – Break

  • 15:30 – Fourth Workshop

  • 16:30 – Closing Session

  • 17:00 – Walking network dinner (included in ticket)

Attendees network at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere, Netherlands.

FOOD MATCHING NETWORK

One of the key features of the Food Business Conference is the opportunity to take part in our exclusive matchmaking program or the Food Innovators finance table. Sign up now for a chance to connect (virtually) with producers, suppliers, educators, researchers, and other (inter)national key players who share our mission of driving a more sustainable future for the food, beverage, seafood and agriculture industries.

Locally sourced paprika, a key ingredient in the networking dinner at the Food Business Conference 2025 in Almere.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can buy a ticket for Food Business Conf. 2025 by visiting our official website, selecting Buy your ticket, completing your payment, and receiving instant confirmation by email to secure your place at the leading food innovation conference in the Netherlands.

  • There are two ticket options for Food Business Conf. 2025:

    Free ticket

    • Full day program access

    • Locally sourced lunch & drinks, walking dinner by
      Deli Nomads

    • Free slots are limited and may require organizer approval, with priority for participants directly connected to the day’s topics.


    Premium ticket

    • All free ticket benefits

    • 1-year community/matching program to connect you with partners, investors, subsidy and voucher support.

    • Plus assured access to the networking walking dinner with thanks to Provincie Flevoland

  • Food Business Conf. 2025 will take place at the Natural Pavilion in Almere, Netherlands. A hub for food innovation, agritech, seafood and sustainability.

  • Food Business Conf. 2025 will be held on 10 October 2025 from 10:00 to 17:00.

  • The theme of Food Business Conf. 2025 covers four core topics: Think Global, Eat Local, Matching, Innovation, and Trends & Tools – all focused on connecting and inspiring food entrepreneurs and innovators.

  • You can connect with participants at Food Business Conf. 2025 using our matching tool, designed to schedule one-on-one meetings with food entrepreneurs, investors, suppliers, and experts before the event.

  • Food Business Conf. 2025 is designed for food, agri & seafood entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups, agritech innovators, policy makers, investors, and anyone shaping the future of the food system.

  • Parking for Food Business Conf. 2025 is available on-site at the Natural Pavilion, with clear signage and event staff to assist.

  • Access to Food Business Conf. 2025 and the 1 year community/matching program acces is available by purchasing a premium ticket.

  • Safety at Food Business Conf. 2025 is ensured through compliance with all local regulations, on-site trained staff, and first aid facilities.

  • The conference program will be conducted in English. As most speakers are Dutch, participants are welcome to ask questions in Dutch, which the speakers will understand without difficulty.

  • There are limited discounted spots for students and early-stage start-ups at Food Business Conf. 2025, available via our website.

  • Yes, Food Business Conf. 2025 will host international attendees, including members from the FBC US network and other global partners.

  • You can showcase products or services at Food Business Conf. 2025 through partnerships or by hosting a themed session. Contact the team for options.

  • Prepare for Food Business Conf. 2025 by reviewing the event programme, booking your matchmaking meetings, and bringing business cards or digital contact tools.

  • Food Business Conf. 2025 will not be livestreamed, but highlights and an aftermovie will be shared online.

  • Sustainability at Food Business Conf. 2025 includes local sourcing for catering, reduced waste, and CO₂-conscious travel advice.

Contact

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