NEW TECH FOODS

Dutch biotech company NoPalm Ingredients has announced plans to establish its first demonstration factory at the Food Innovation Campus operated by NIZO Food Research in Ede.

The facility will bring the company’s yeast-based palm oil alternative production under one roof for the first time, marking a shift from pilot to commercial-scale operations.

The new site will initially produce several hundred tons of yeast oil annually, with capacity expected to exceed 1,200 tons in the coming years. The factory will also serve as a testing ground for new raw materials and process innovations.

“The step towards our first factory is a concrete milestone in our ambition to become a leader in yeast oil production,” said NoPalm Ingredients founder and CEO Lars Langhout. “From a shaking flask and a microscope in the lab, we are now building our own factory: dreams are becoming reality. As pioneers, we are showing the industry that yeast oils no longer only exist in the lab, but can also be produced at large scale, and that we are a reliable partner for sustainable oil alternatives.”

Until now, NoPalm’s production steps were spread across multiple sites. Consolidating operations in Ede is expected to cut costs, shorten timelines and provide customers with greater security of supply. The company is targeting long-term partnerships with food manufacturers looking to replace conventional oils with more sustainable alternatives.

“For our customers, this factory demonstrates that we are ready to deliver at industrial scale,” commented Julie Cortal, CCO at NoPalm Ingredients. “We have proven that our technology works, and by taking the entire process into our own hands, we maintain maximum control over every step: from raw material to end product. This guarantees consistent quality, high standards, and security of supply – and with that, a solid foundation for long-term partnerships with customers who want to become more sustainable and grow.”

The demonstration facility is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2026 and will employ 25 staff, doubling the company’s current workforce in Wageningen. Further scale-up is planned for 2027 and 2028, with the longer-term goal of building a full commercial factory in collaboration with industrial partners.

“The arrival of NoPalm Ingredients fits perfectly with our ambition to further develop the NIZO Food Innovation Campus into the place for sustainable food innovation,” added Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO Food Research. “They strengthen the fermentation cluster in the region and apply fermentation to fats – an often overlooked but essential part of both the protein and food transition.”

The project is supported by Oost NL, the Province of Gelderland, and the Municipality of Ede. The permitting process is already underway.