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The Golden Bean Award

The Golden Bean Award celebrates those shaping the protein transition

Established in 2022 by The Protein Community, The Golden Bean recognizes people making great strides in accelerating the protein transition. The experts at Foodvalley select winners based on criteria like impact, collaboration, personal engagement and innovation. The symbolic golden bean pin serves as a catalyst for innovation and raises awareness, fostering collaboration within the protein industry. By linking the Golden Bean with positive change, it motivates individuals and organizations to explore inventive approaches. The award spotlights the significance of the Protein Transition and the achievements of those driving change.

Golden Bean Award Foodvalley

Meet the Golden Bean Awardees

The Golden Bean Awardees excel in 3 key aspects of the protein transition:

1. Becoming protein self sufficient

Establishing sustainable protein systems in specific regions, making locally produced goods desirable and accessible, and fortifying self-reliant ecosystems.

2. Shortening the time to market

Introducing novel alternative protein products in evolving markets, positioning companies as innovators, and meeting the growing demand for sustainability.

3. Redefining the protein industry

Embracing alternative protein choices, diversifying sources, and reshaping mindsets and operations from animal-based to plant-based in meat, dairy & fish.

Awardees 2024

Joël Broekaert

Media personality

  • Joël received the Golden Bean Award for writing the book ‘De wereldgeschiedenis in twaalf bonen’
Brad Vanstone

Willicroft

  • For serving our CEO, Mother Nature, and bringing beans to our plates in the form of delicious cheese.
Kees Pieters

Provincie Gelderland

  • For 10 years a provincial rock in the Protein Transition branding! Founding father of IPO Protein Transition.
Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl
Tracye McQuirter

By Any Greens Necessary

Awardees 2023

Wouter Staal

YB

  • Founder of the first and only Climate Positive healthy restaurant chain in the world: Yoghurt Barn.
Elies Lemkes

Provincie Noord-Brabant

  • Elies received The Golden Bean for her role as deputy in anchoring the protein transition on the provincial agenda.
Stacy Pyett

Wageningen University & Research

  • Stacy has an important role as research program manager at Proteins For Life and was the lead editor of the book ‘Our Future Proteins’.
Marc Arts

Green Food 50

  • Mister Quinoa of the Netherlands, who has also been a member of the sounding board of The Protein Community from the very start.
Paul van Zanten

Inveja

  • As a legume processor, Paul is the missing link and bridges the gap between production and consumption through various collaborations.
Ruben Bringsken

Jamael Foods / Boon

  • Behind the scenes, Ruben is an innovative entrepreneur in the world of beans.
Henk Janknegt

Eiwitboeren van NL

  • First chairman of the producers organisation Eiwitboeren van Nederland: a game-changing farmer!
Verena Wiederkehr

BILLA

  • Verena had an essential role linking the protein transition with retail, with Pflanzilla as an example.
Renze Brouwer

Ministerie LNV

  • Renze is program manager for the National Protein Strategy in the Netherlands, and a catalyst for important projects such as the Protein Transition Map NL and Future Protein NL.
Jans Hoekman

OostNL

  • One of the founders of The Protein Community, who has been working tirelessly to keep the protein transition high on the agenda at regional development agencies.
Janny van der Heijden

Provincie Noord Brabant

  • In her role as high-tech innovation strategist in agrifood at the province of Noord-Brabant, Janny is an important initiator and motivator for the protein transition.

Awardees 2022

Fred van de Velde

HAS/Nizo

  • Fred was the first lecturer (HAS Green Academy) on protein transition in the Netherlands and actively engaged a new generation of students in this vital transition.
Henk Schouten

Schouten Europe

  • A true plant protein pioneer, both within and outside the Netherlands.
Michael Luesink

Voormalig BoonBonen

  • Michael received the Golden Bean Award for modernising beans through BoonBeans, making them appealing to a new generation.
Marieke Laméris

Lekker Lupine

  • Marieke was awarded for her unstoppable energy to get lupine on everyone’s plate.
Jessie van Hattum

AH/GPA

  • Jessie received the award for her role as a protein changemaker at AH, and her role at Green Protein Alliance, where she developed the innovative tool The Protein Tracker (Eiweet).
Marjolein Brasz

Foodvalley

  • Marjolein was awarded for her dedication to the Bean Deal, which connected 56 parties, and her international ambassadorial role for the protein transition.