Biotechnology Fermentation Factory Ede (BFF) and NIZO Food Research.
NIZO Food Research is constructing an open-access facility to help scale up food and ingredient production using fermentation. This initiative is a key step toward sustainable food systems and supports NIZO’s mission to improve food and health through innovation.
The BFF, located on NIZO’s campus, is designed to address the growing demand for scalable fermentation solutions, including precision fermentation and microbial biomass. By integrating NIZO’s advanced food-grade pilot plant, laboratories, and expertise in product development, the facility provides companies with a unique environment to accelerate the development and commercialize their products.
A hub for scaling fermentation
The core strength of the BFF is that it helps companies scale production up to 10,000L without expensive infrastructure investments. Combining NIZO’s decades of expertise in food technology with cutting-edge facilities, the BFF streamlines the path from research to market.
Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO Food Research, highlights the transformative potential of the new facility: “The BFF represents an extraordinary opportunity for companies to innovate and scale in a food-grade environment. By providing end-to-end support – from process optimization to food product formulation, regulatory and commercialization guidance – we are accelerating the protein transition and fostering a future of sustainable, nutritious food options.”
The realization of the open access upscaling facilities is financially supported through a €12.5 million grant from the National Growth Fund for Cellular Agriculture Netherlands (NGF CAN). With additional financial backing from OostNL via Perspectieffonds Gelderland, the BFF underscores the commitment to advancing cellular agriculture and driving meaningful change in food production.
Growing cellular agriculture
The launch of the BFF is part of a broader initiative to position the Netherlands as a global hub for cellular agriculture. Alongside the BFF, Cultivate at Scale (CaS) in Maastricht focuses on upscaling of cell culture bioprocessing. Together, these facilities provide critical infrastructure for the rapidly growing cellular agriculture sector.
Accelerating the protein transition
The construction of the Biotechnology Fermentation Factory (BFF) starts in early 2025, but NIZO already has existing facilities that enable companies to advance their (precision) fermentation processes immediately. The BFF is expected to be fully operational with advanced scale-up facilities by the end of 2026, supporting companies in transforming food production and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Bron: www.nizo.com