Wednesday, 2 December 2026 | 13:45 - 14:45
Parallel session: Life Sciences for competitive, resilient and sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
European life science innovations hold the key to a competitive and resilient agri-food sector, yet commercialization is often choked by regulatory bottlenecks and scaling hurdles. This session explores how upcoming policy shifts alongside targeted scale-up programs like the DG GROW Biotech Scaling call can accelerate time-to-market. Bringing together Commission officials, research leaders, and innovative SMEs, the panel will map out practical strategies to bridge the gap between scientific breakthrough and industrial rollout across Europe.
Moderator: Henri Delanghe, Head of Unit Research and Innovation, DG AGRI
Speakers:
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Luis Vivas-Alegre, Research and Innovation, DG AGRI & Rosalinda SCALIA, Deputy Head of Unit Bioeconomy and Food Systems, DG Research and Innovation
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Melisa Duman, Policy Officer, Sustainable Products and Textiles, DG GROW, European Commission
Panel:
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Yvonne Dommels, Director Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs, The Protein Brewery, Netherlands
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Veerle De Schepper, Head of R&D, Rainbow Crops, Belgium