Plant FWD 2026
Introducing the Balanced
Proteins track
8 & 9 April 2026
Balanced Proteins: What’s It All About?
Balanced Proteins – formerly known as hybrids or blends – are booming. And for good reasons. Global adoption of Balanced Proteins is essential for re-accelerating the protein transition. At a moment when meat and dairy prices are rising, supply chains remain volatile and procurement teams are under growing pressure. Balanced Proteins create a unique partnership opportunity for the plant-based and animal protein industries to combine strengths and deliver delicious, nutritious, and affordable products on a scale.
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Hosted by Foodvalley’s The Protein Community and USA-based Food System Innovations, four break-out sessions – two on each Plant FWD-day – dive into the fast-evolving world of Balanced Proteins. Through these sessions, experts unpack the latest global market and product developments, leaders from the plant-based, meat, and dairy industries discuss how to team-up. Retailers share their hard-won lessons from both successes and failures, attendees learn how -and how not – to communicate on Balanced Proteins and can share their opinion. New balanced products will make their debut and, very exciting: the world’s first initiative on globally scaling Balanced Proteins is going to be launched.
Get your discount code
Join us in Barneveld on April 8 & 9 for Plant FWD, where startups, brands, retailers, foodservice professionals, policymakers, and investors from all over Europe and the US will converge. The event features over 30 influential speakers, networking opportunities, and an exciting marketplace showcasing the latest innovations in plant-based products. The Protein Community, will host 4 breakout sessions (2 per day) together with US Impact Platform Food System Innovations and have a stand, be sure to visit us! As a valued Protein Community partner, we are able to offer you a discount. Get your ticket for just €295 for a 2-day entry.
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Balanced side track Program:
Balanced Proteins: all around and here to stay! Or not?
8 April 2026, 11:30 – 12:30
Be surprised how Balanced Proteins – aka hybrids or blends – are globally all around, as a means to mainstreaming a more plant based diet. Expect a mind-blowing line-up from all corners of the industry.
Moderated by Tim Dale, Category Innovation Director at Food System Innovations (USA) and Jeroen Willemsen, Lead Protein Transition at Foodvalley.
Latest in Balanced Meat,Dairy Ingredients & Production
8 April 2026, part 1: 13:45 – 14:30 / part 2: 14:45-15:30
In this extra-long session the latest developments in Balanced Protein ingredients and products are presented. From faba to chickpea, from mycoproteins to seaweed, from jackfruit to potato. With special attention for applying upcycled ingredients in Balanced Proteins. Following an exciting product launch, focus is on novel production techniques and ways of applying AI to efficiently scale Balanced Protein production and identify optimal ingredient-combinations.
A call to action: collaborate and participate on scaling Balanced Proteins!
The event serves as an invitation to all stakeholders to express their interest in joining the Balanced Proteins movement. Learn more about Balanced Proteins, based on the narrative ‘Animals & Plants: Blends with Benefits’. Make sure to attend the final Break-Out session on the 9th of April.
Promoting Balanced Proteins:
Loud or Silent?
9 April 2026, 11:30 – 12:30
This exiting session on Balanced Proteins is all about communication. Go for Frontpack, on-menu triggers (‘loud’) or walk the silent route?
Animals & Plants: Blends with Benefits
9 April 2026, 13:45 -14:30
This final session on Balanced Proteins promises to be the most thrilling one. The 2025 Eiweet/The Protein Tracker results for Dutch retailers are revealed, providing a starting point for a balanced conversation with representatives from retail, meat and plant industry.
Program Plant FWD 2026
Explore the full program here.