We welcome the great Luis Angel Fernandez, Vice President Strategic Development, EMEA & International of MANE, as part of the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem Advisory Board. With his knowledge, experience but also uplifting energy and kindness, Luis is an important member of the board. Luis has shared with us his outlook on what it means to him to be part of the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem Advisory Board.
Why are you part of the Advisory Board?
Participating as a member of the Bridge2Food advisory board is a very inspiring and rewarding experience due to the amazing contributions from many partners (ingredients, food manufacturers, crops, analytical, technology companies, and academia). Furthermore, it is an opportunity to share our knowledge, insights, and experience. In simple language, I would define the advisory board spirit with the word “trust”. We built confidence and respect amongst one another for a novel cause.
What has the EcoSystem done for you?
I am always impressed by the consistent level of participation during the bi-weekly meetings from the EcoSystem partners, both during early morning calls to Europe/Asia or late afternoon calls to Europe/USA. Highly experienced leaders attend the discussions and contribute their viewpoints, smart insights and keep everyone up to date on our Protein Transition focus. Plant-Based Foods keep growing and capturing the world´s imagination. To me, this forum constitutes a strategic crossroads enabling us to feel supported and stronger to accomplish our goals.
Why is your organization a partner?
First, we trust the organization Bridge2Food for its reputation in the market with so many years of demonstrating integrity, conviction, and courage. Gerard Klein Essink is an authentic affiliation leader, full of innovative ideas to promote collaboration. Gerard is the glue around all of us and a real team builder. He binds us together towards our common goal. There are so many tangible and intangible values to collect from this partnership. My company is proud of the open innovation projects we have joined and the anticipated information we regularly collect to guide our investments and focus.
What do you think the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem can do for others in the field?
One key characteristic the EcoSystem provides is an exponential growth potential by integrating everyone in a consortium through the “one plus one more than two” rule. With the brand-new volunteer Advisory Board, we have a group of leaders empowered to influence the future steps of the Global Plant-Based Foods Ecosystem. The future is exciting, and I am fully engaged to continue working together to advance and accelerate our goal of a better food world with a focus on plant-based & proteins.
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About Luis Angel Fernandez
Luis Angel Fernandez is the Vice President Strategic Development, EMEA & International at MANE. He is a biochemist, CFS, fellow IFT, and Fellow IAFoST. He is based in MANE headquarters in Le Bar-sur-Loup, France. If you want to learn more about Luis & his work at MANE, please contact him through LinkedIn or visit the MANE website.
About the EcoSystem
275+ Industry Leaders from 110 Organisations are partnering since 2019 in the Global Plant-Based Foods Ecosystem, to accelerate the transition towards a more plant-based diet, with better foods, produced in a sustainable way, as well as increase food security with an abundant supply of proteins for food, feed, and pet food markets.
Innovation, Research & Development Leaders from Food Brands, Ingredient & Processing Companies, Institutes, Universities, Grower Associations, and Breeders collaborate on such a future with concrete actions, deliverables, and outcomes. To be involved in the EcoSystem and to join bi-weekly meetings, you can register here. To get all details on the EcoSystem, you can check out this page.
