A warm welcome to Stacy Pyett, Program Manager Proteins for Life at Wageningen University, as a partner of the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem Advisory Board. Stacy, who has many years of experience in the alternative protein space, is an important member of the board with her expertise in sustainable & equitable global protein systems. We took the opportunity to ask Stacy a few questions, on why it is important for her to participate & collaborate in the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem, hence her reason to join the Advisory Board.
Why are you part of the Advisory Board?
It is a pleasure and honor for me to support the EcoSystem as a board member. We all know that the transition requires alignment across the value chain and between academics, industry, and policymakers. Initiatives like this are essential to our success!
What has the EcoSystem done for you?
The Bridge2Food plant-based EcoSystem is an incredible high-level network, bringing together decision-makers to address shared goals. Through collaboration, we can tackle major goals – like enabling cleaner labels without compromising texture quality – that are too ambitious for one individual organization.
Why is your organization a partner?
We are committed to staying engaged with industry and policymakers in the field, and this EcoSystem is a very efficient way to do so. Our partnership enables us to understand the challenges industrial partners are facing and to disseminate our scientific findings to stakeholders.
What do you think the EcoSystem can do for others in the field?
I would encourage companies from all parts of the value chain to get involved. The big wins ahead of us require ramping up supply in production and primary processing of future protein sources. Actors from the early stages of the chain who are looking to understand the mid- to long-term needs of B2C companies will find exactly what they need in this EcoSystem.
===========================================================
About Stacy Pyett
As Program Manager Proteins for Life at Wageningen University & Research, Dr. Stacy Pyett is responsible for aligning protein-related research to stakeholder needs. Stacy is committed to making protein systems more sustainable and equitable, and to maintaining a science-based and nuanced dialogue in what can be a contentious domain. Stacy got her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan and began her career in the dairy industry as a research scientist at Campina (now part of FrieslandCampina). She later expanded her work toward new protein sources while working as a group leader at NIZO research. For the last 6 years, she has focused on relationship and strategy management, maintaining a focus on protein research and the protein transition. If you want to learn more about Stacy and her work at Wageningen University, please contact her through LinkedIn or visit the Wageningen University Proteins for Life webpage.
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.
