2023 Agenda - day one
An energetic programme of keynotes, presentations, panel discussions, Q&A’s, interviews and live podcasts from world leading and pioneering bio developers and producers, consumer facing brands, investors and community enablers.
08:00-09:00
Welcome coffee & registration
09:00-09:10
Opening remarks
Paul MacDonald, Partner & Head of Community, World Bio Markets
09:10-09:30
Opening keynote address: The plant positive way - bioeconomy towards net zero and a profitable future
The plant is our hero. With the valorization of side-streams and carbon negative raw materials as a source, the business groups of Royal Cosun aims to unlock the biobased industry. The transition challenges of conventional chemistry, energy and materials into a more sustainable and circular world are large and yet to be overcome. Improved consumer solutions to affordable scale, resilience and strong partnerships are imperative for success.
Mike Vermeer, Senior Innovation Manager, Royal Cosun
09:30-09:40
AMSilk - succesfully scaling up biofabrication of silk proteins
AMSilk is a prime mover of providing smart bio-based silk materials for many applications. Head of Fibre, Benoit Cugnet, will talk about the company‘s next milestones with regard to strategic production partnerships, scale up, and customer projects, the company’s new sustainability program and the successfully completed new fundraising series.
Benoit Cugnet, Head of Fiber Business, AMSilk
09:40-09:50
Nanocellulose Valley - enabling today’s forests to launch tomorrow’s sustainable products
Discover nearly limitless opportunities to replace fossil-derived materials with UMaine’s world-renowned and globally commercialized technology for producing nanocellulose. From functional packaging to advanced composites to bone replacements, highly refined sustainable forest fiber is the solution your company needs on its journey to launch the next generation of products.
Dr. Colleen Walker, Director, UMaine’s Process Development Center, University of Maine
09:50-10:00
How to win friends and Influence bacteria - the domestication of microbes
MicroByre envisions a world of chemical products produced not through petroleum processing, but through the incredible biological systems our bacterial friends specialize in. We domesticate reluctant and rebellious bacteria to unlock metabolic pathways that have long been overlooked for economically viable biomanufacturing applications, helping our partners accelerate their transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Sarah Richardson, CEO, MicroByre
10:00-10:10
A competitive bioeconomy for a sustainable future - Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking
Since 2014, the public-private partnership Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has invested €3.7 billion in 140+ projects developing highly innovative, resource-efficient and competitive bio-based industries in Europe. A new €215.5 million call for project proposals is inviting all stakeholders of the bio-based industries ecosystem to apply.
Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore, Executive Director, CBE JU
10:10-10:20
Mycelium Solutions - working with nature to maintain spaceship earth
The world recognizes the urgent need to change our behavior for a healthy planet. This talk will explore how mycelium, the ‘roots’ of mushrooms, have emerged as a versatile solution for making many different products with less environmental impact, everything from packaging to fashion and apparel and, of course, food.
Andy Bass, Chief Marketing Officer, Ecovative
10:30-11:00
Panel discussion: Investing in bio and how best to secure funding
What you need to know (and what you dont need to know) when thinking about investing in bio and the importance of investor alignment and top tips for developers and producers looking to secure funding – The challenges, opportunities, risk and rewards… and lessons learnt along the way.
Hosted by Ludwig Goris, Partner, Capricorn Partners
Featuring:
Josko Bobanovic, Partner, Sofinnova Partners
Stéphane Roussel, Partner, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund
Rik Wehbring, Managing Director, Bioeconomy Capital
Madelon Bangma, CFO, Unknown Group
11:00-11:45
Networking coffee
11:45-12:00
Modern Meadow: Delivering biomaterials innovation at scale
Modern Meadow is a sustainable bio-design technology company that uses nature-inspired proteins to develop solutions that reduce our reliance on petrochemical and animal-derived inputs. Its scalable products drop into existing manufacturing processes, allowing partners to bring sustainable goods to market quickly and without high upfront costs. We aim to drive innovation in sustainability and create new solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.
Catherine Roggero-Lovisi, CEO, Modern Meadow
12:00-12:10
Relying on microorganisms and fermentation to build a sustainable industry
Driven by the conviction that fermentation is one of the answers to today’s challenges, we collaborate with players from all sectors to make industry more sustainable. We support our partners whatever the stage they are at, on this path of development and industrialization of microorganism, biobased molecule, or product.
Pierre Basuyaux, Sales Manager, Europe & Asia, Leaf by Lesaffre
12:10-12:20
The growing strength of the U.S. heartland’s bioeconomy
Nebraska’s bioeconomy is booming due to the state’s bountiful renewable resources and innovative ag tech ecosystem. Hear from state leaders and Veramaris, a Delft-based biomanufacturer, about Nebraska’s strengths as a home for sustainable, bio-based production.
Cobus Block, Director of International & Business Recruitment, State of Nebraska
Marion Hax, Director Strategy, Veramaris
12:20-12:30
North Sea Port - a transition in full throttle
North Sea Port values residual streams, CO2 and waste as valuable raw materials that play a key role in the circular economy. The port provides the perfect feeding ground for innovation and entrepreneurship within a diverse biobased ecosystem.
Nathalie Cogghe, Commercial Manager, North Sea Port
Karen Polfliet, Project Manager Circular Economy and Sustainability, North Sea Port
12:30-12:40
BioForming® S2A Technology - success in fuels and fabrics
Here we share how we have helped drive the sustainability performance for United, Rolls-Royce and Gulfstream and how our bio based chemicals are being used within the fibres and packaging sector… and of course who we would like to collaborate with in the future.
Iain Gilmore, Business Development Director, Johnson Matthey
12:50-13:15
Panel discussion: Shoe sustainability - bio progress and priorities
An inside look examining the footwear industry’s progress toward sustainability.
Hosted by Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA (Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America)
Featuring:
Gayatri Keskar, VP of Research, Material ConneXion
Nicolo Giusti, Director of Footwear Sourcing & Production, Tommy Hilfiger
Charlotte Herdt, Global Sustainability Programme Manager, Arkema
13:15-14:30
Networking lunch
14:30-14:45
Sustainability by design and high performing cosmetics ingredients
L’Oréal has set itself some very ambitious targets in terms of sustainability, including moving away from using fossil-derived ingredients. Partnering with external bio-based and circular technology providers and industrial ingredients manufacturers will be key in this transition.
Fabien Deswarte, Sustainable Innovation Manager, L’Oréal
14:45-14:55
Bio Hydroxy Polymers - the missing link in bioplastics
Experts in the manufacture of thermally processible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a highly functional polymer with additional end of life properties. PVA enhances the functionality of biopolymers such as PLA and PHA without compromising biobased content. Introducing a new material derived from PVA which is 100% biobased, has excellent functionality as well as multiple end of life possibilities.
Mark Lapping, CEO, Aquapak Polymers
14:55-15:05
Zero waste alone will not enable faster results
Cybersecurity issues have been blocking results instead of accelerating them for far too long. Blueotter’s proposal to accelerate success is to co-invest in highly innovative projects with international partners and smartly share the know-how across industries and geographies.
Vanessa Segurado, CEO & CSO, Blueotter Group
15:05-15:15
Creating a low carbon energy cluster in the 4th largest port in Europe
The port of Amsterdam is the 4th largest port in Europe and one of the world’s major energy hubs. Learn more about how the port is transitioning towards a carbon neutral energy port that utilizes and clusters various waste streams as valuable feedstock.
Joey van Elswijk, Commercial Manager Renewable Fuels, Port of Amsterdam
15:15-15:25
Investing in the bio-revolution
Biologization is the next big wave of transformation after digitalization affecting main industries, business models, and investors. Learn how ECBF strives for a prosperous future realigned with nature and incorporates such a vision at the core of its investment decisions and seizes the opportunities that the shift from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy is opening.
Stéphane Roussel, Partner, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund
15:35-16:00
Panel discussion: Accelerating change in the global chemical industry
Here we explore the role of the bioeconomy in the decarbonisation of the chemical sector and unpick it’s pros and cons. What are the top 3 commercial imperatives that can be done (by the people in this room) to super charge change and contribute to planetary protection.
Hosted by Norbert Baum, Vice President Global Business Development, Helm
Featuring:
Samir Somaiya, Chairman & Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries
Arnaud Gabenisch, Open Innovation & Strategy Director – Renewable Materials & Biotech Growth Platform, Solvay
Ben Dolman, CEO, Holiferm
16:00-16:30
Networking coffee
16:30-16:50
Escape the supplier role - scale and protect the commercialisation of your sustainable innovation through Ingredient Branding
Brands and retailers are constantly looking for innovations to meet their sustainability goals. But they’re not necessarily interested in helping companies to get most value out of their innovations. They often treat them as suppliers and easily replace them once the same technology is available at scale. Ingredient Branding allows you to escape this situation in order to scale and protect commercialisation of your sustainable innovations
Tomas Vucurevic, Owner & Managing Director, BRAIND
16:50-17:00
Introduction to ADM as a partner of choice in plant based solutions
ADM is a global player in the agricultural market and has a 120 year legacy in the utilization of plant based materials in industrial applications. With the increasing pressure on environment, ADM is well placed to contribute to the defossilization of the advanced material value chain.
Jan Weernink, Global Marketing Director BioSolutions, ADM
17:00-17:25
Panel discussion: The scaling up journey - text book versus reality
Is there such a thing as a text book scaling up journey and if so what does it look like, how long does it take and what are the commercial milestones. Perspectives from an early stage startup, outsourced R&D&I provider, supplier and financier.
Hosted by Duncan Macleod, Adviser, C-Associates
Featuring:
Goizeder Barberena Ibanez, Biomass Strategy & Business Development Manager, CENER (National Renewable Energy Centre)
Anne-Marie de Moei, Clean Technologies Business Development Manager, Alfa Laval
Carolin Lanfer, Director Corporate Ventures – Sustainability, adidas
Marie Claire Zernitz, CEO, Caffe Inc.
17:25-17:30
Closing remarks
Paul MacDonald, Partner & Head of Community, World Bio Markets