Two days. Two milestones. One important conversation about the future of farming.
In June, RespectFarms brought together farmers, researchers, innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and partners for two landmark moments.
On 04 June, the first-ever Cell Farmers Symposium filled the Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland in The Hague with people from across the farming and cellular agriculture ecosystems.
The following day, on 05 June, we officially opened the world's first cultivated meat farm in Schipluiden.
Together, these two events represented an important step in the RespectFarms journey: moving the conversation about cultivated meat beyond technology alone and bringing it closer to the people, places and farming systems that could help shape its future.
What started with a simple question, can cultivated meat become something for farmers? is now becoming a real place for exploration, discussion and collaboration.
A full house for the first Cell Farmers Symposium
Farmers, governments and policymakers, researchers, scientists, technology companies, industry representatives, NGOs, media and entrepreneurs all came together to explore a shared question: what could the role of farmers be in the development of cellular agriculture?
Throughout the afternoon, speakers and participants shared perspectives on farming, technology, regulation, business development, policy and the broader food system.
We were honoured to welcome contributions from Peter Holl, Wijnand van Smaalen, Corné van Leeuwen, Ruud Zanders, Leon Moonen, Focko Zwanenburg, Didier Toubia, Florentine Zieglowski, Maresa Oosterman, René Wijffels, Hannah Lester and Elena Nalon, with Desiree Hoving guiding the conversation as moderator.
The diversity of perspectives in the room was one of the day's greatest strengths as there were different experiences, different expectations and, naturally, different questions. But there was also a clear interest in exploring how this emerging technology could create new opportunities for agriculture, and how farmers can remain central to the conversation.
A special thank you goes to our hosts at the Province of Zuid-Holland, Ton Jonker and Nikos van Aelst, for helping create a platform where these conversations could take place.
From listening to imagining
One of the highlights of the symposium was the closing workshop led by Ralf Becks.
Participants were invited to contribute directly. Together, they explored what would be needed to enable farmers to benefit from cellular agriculture and what questions still need to be answered.
The day concluded with participants signing a manifesto, a symbolic commitment to continue the conversation and build connections between farming, science, industry and policy.
Not a one-off event, but the beginning of an annual platform for people who want to explore the future of farming together.
And judging by the energy in the room, the first edition was a promising start!
The next day: opening the world's first cultivated meat farm
Just one day later, the conversation moved from The Hague to Schipluiden.
There, on a working dairy farm, RespectFarms officially opened the farm.
The event brought together visitors from across Europe, alongside partners, farmers, researchers, policymakers, investors and pioneers who have supported the journey.
For the RespectFarms team, the moment was exciting and emotional. After years of conversations, ideas, collaboration, technical development and planning, what had started as an ambitious vision had become a real place: A place where people can come together to see, learn, question and explore what a possible future of farming could look like.
A ribbon cut by the next generation
One moment stood out above all others. The official ribbon was cut by the daughters of dairy farmer Corné van Leeuwen.
Because this project is ultimately not only about a new technology or a new way of producing food. It is about asking what agriculture could look like for future generations, and ensuring that farmers have the opportunity to help shape that future.
We were honoured to welcome Meindert Stolk and Aad Straathof, delegates from the Province of Zuid-Holland, who highlighted the importance of agricultural innovation in addressing the challenges facing our future food system.
We were also inspired by contributions from Mark Post and Koert van Mensvoort, who challenged the audience to think differently about technology, food production and society.
The afternoon also included a personal conversation with the four founders of RespectFarms, Ira van Eelen, Ruud Zanders, Ralf Becks and Florentine Zieglowski, reflecting on the journey from an ambitious idea to a working farm.
This was followed by guided farm tours, conversations and new connections, and perhaps most importantly, many questions!
From vision to a real place
The opening of the farm does not mean that all the answers have been found. In many ways, it means the real work of exploring those answers can now begin:
- How can cellular agriculture integrate with existing farming systems?
- What new business models could emerge?
- What skills and infrastructure might farmers need?
- What are the regulatory and economic questions that still need to be addressed?
- And how can farmers, researchers, companies, policymakers and citizens work together to shape the answers?
The cultivated meat farm in Schipluiden has been created as a place to explore these questions in practice. A place where farmers, researchers, policymakers, companies, students and citizens can meet. A place to learn, challenge assumptions, share knowledge and test ideas. And the conversation that began in the symposium continued at the farm.
Built together
Neither of these milestones would have been possible without the collaboration and support of a wide network of organisations and individuals.
We are deeply grateful to our partners in the CRAFT consortium: EIT Food, Mosa Meat, Wageningen University & Research, Aleph Farms, Kuijpers, Multus and Kipster.
We also thank the Province of Zuid-Holland, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, the European Commission, Sartorius, Big Dutchman, and the many farmers, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, NGOs and supporters who have contributed to this journe
Innovation does not happen in isolation. It happens through collaboration, disagreement, experimentation, curiosity and a willingness to bring different perspectives together!!
That is what these two days represented
The conversation continues
The first Cell Farmers Symposium and the opening of the world's first cultivated meat farm were two different events. One created space for conversation, the other created a place where those conversations can continue.
Together, they marked an important milestone for RespectFarms, but they are not an endpoint.
We do not believe the future of farming should be designed for farmers without farmers.
That is why we will continue inviting people to the table, to the symposium and to the farm: to ask questions, share concerns, explore opportunities and help shape what comes next.
The farm is now open.
So is the conversation.
What began as a question, "Can cultivated meat become something for farmers?" is now a place where that question can be explored in practice.
So, if you would like to visit the farm, collaborate with us, organise a delegation or learn more about what RespectFarms is building, we would love to hear from you.
The future of farming is not something to announce. It is something to explore together!
More pictures from the symposium:
More pictures from the opening:
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