Theme
Food waste & Upcycling
Visit the Netherlands for Upcycling & Food Waste Innovation
Where circular thinking becomes practical reality
The Netherlands is internationally recognized for its highly efficient agrifood sector. At the same time, it has become one of Europe’s most active ecosystems in reducing food waste and upcycling residual streams.
In a country where land and resources are scarce, inefficiency simply isn’t an option. This drives a pragmatic and systemic approach: prevent food loss where possible, redirect edible surplus, and transform unavoidable side streams into valuable new products.
A coordinated national approach
A central catalyst in this transition is Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling (Food Waste Free United), a national public–private movement that connects companies, knowledge institutions and government around the ambition of halving food waste by 2030.
Rather than isolated pilots, the Dutch approach aligns measurement, targets and action across the full value chain, from primary production and processing to retail, hospitality and consumers.
Why this makes a valuable learning visit
Reducing food waste is complex. It requires changes in procurement, logistics, packaging and consumer behavior, and alignment between actors that traditionally operate separately. The strength of the Netherlands lies in its dense, well-connected network, where entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers can rapidly test solutions and scale what works.
Innovation in practice
Upcycling in the Netherlands is tangible and commercially driven. Companies across the ecosystem are turning residual streams into new products and services.
Examples include:
The Netherlands also hosts collaborative platforms such as the Foodvalley NL Upcycling Community, which connects corporates, scale-ups and researchers to accelerate the development and market adoption of products made with upcycled ingredients.
What FoodX offers
FoodX organizes tailored delegation programs focused on food waste & upcycling. Within a compact geography, delegations can meet innovators developing upcycled products, technology providers measuring waste streams, and organizations coordinating national strategies. We connect you with relevant expertise and real-world applications.
Example program elements:
- Visits and meetings with upcycling startups and scale-ups
- Discussions with national initiatives working on food waste reduction
- Insight sessions on circular business models and supply chains
- Exchanges on scaling, regulation and market acceptance
- A tasting session featuring examples of upcycled products
Interested?
Would you like to explore the Dutch ecosystem for food waste & upcycling? We will gladly discuss the possibilities of a tailored program that includes this topic with you.
Explore related themes
Food waste & upcycling are closely connected to other areas of food innovation. A FoodX program can combine multiple themes, allowing you to explore related topics.