NoPalm Ingredients and NIZO sign agreement for first yeast oil demonstration factory at the Food Innovation Campus in Ede

Wageningen/Ede, 2 September 2025 – Biotech pioneer NoPalm Ingredients® and contract research company NIZO Food Research jointly announce the establishment of NoPalm Ingredients’ first Demonstration Factory at the Food Innovation Campus at NIZO in Ede. Here, NoPalm Ingredients® will for the first time run its process for sustainable palm oil alternatives entirely at one location. This contract marks the transition from pilot to commercial-scale production.

“The step towards our first factory is a concrete milestone in our ambition to become a leader in yeast oil production,” says CEO and founder Lars Langhout. “From a shaking flask and a microscope in the lab, we are now building our own factory: dreams are becoming reality. As pioneers, we are showing the industry that yeast oils no longer only exist in the lab, but can also be produced at large scale, and that we are a reliable partner for sustainable oil alternatives.”

Until now, process steps took place at multiple locations, but soon everything will happen under one roof. This saves time, reduces costs, and accelerates scaling. The factory will start with several hundred tons per year and grow to more than 1,200 tons. This enables customers to replace conventional oils and make their products more sustainable, while the site also provides space for testing new raw materials and process improvements. For both raw material suppliers and buyers of oil products, this means that NoPalm Ingredients® can guarantee reliable deliveries, supported by long-term contracts and optimized logistics.

“For our customers, this factory demonstrates that we are ready to deliver at industrial scale,” says Julie Cortal, CCO at NoPalm Ingredients®. “We have proven that our technology works, and by taking the entire process into our own hands, we maintain maximum control over every step: from raw material to end product. This guarantees consistent quality, high standards, and security of supply – and with that, a solid foundation for long-term partnerships with customers who want to become more sustainable and grow.”

Since 2023, NIZO has been developing the Food Innovation Campus in Ede, where leading companies in the protein and food transition come together to share knowledge and accelerate scaling. This activity strengthens the region as an international center for biotechnology and the food transition.

“The arrival of NoPalm Ingredients fits perfectly with our ambition to further develop the NIZO Food Innovation Campus into the place for sustainable food innovation,” says Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO Food Research. “They strengthen the fermentation cluster in the region and apply fermentation to fats – an often overlooked but essential part of both the protein and food transition.”

By using NIZO’s existing infrastructure, NoPalm Ingredients can start construction of its factory more quickly and cost-efficiently. The first industrial production of yeast oil is expected in the second half of 2026, followed by further scaling in 2027 and 2028. The factory will employ 25 people, in addition to the 25 at the headquarters in Wageningen.

“With this factory, we are taking our technology to ‘technology readiness level’ 7 and 8, and bringing the full process under our own control at industrial scale,” says Jeroen Blansjaar, COO at NoPalm Ingredients. “This is the crucial step that paves the way for our first commercial factory, which we aim to build together with a sidestream partner at their site. This significantly reduces risks, both for ourselves and for our partners.”

The conclusion of this agreement for the location of the demonstration factory was made possible with the support of Oost NL, the Province of Gelderland, and the Municipality of Ede. NoPalm Ingredients® and NIZO express their great appreciation for this. This collaboration with regional partners is essential for expanding and scaling circular food production in the region. The permit procedure is progressing according to plan and is part of the next steps toward realization.