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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:  

  • Luis Vivas-Alegre, Research and Innovation, DG AGRI & Rosalinda SCALIA, Deputy Head of Unit Bioeconomy and Food Systems, DG Research and Innovation

  • Melisa Duman, Policy Officer, Sustainable Products and Textiles, DG GROW, European Commission

Panel: 

  • Yvonne Dommels, Director Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs, The Protein Brewery, Netherlands 

  • Veerle De Schepper, Head of R&D, Rainbow Crops, Belgium