In Biotech we trust
Making or breaking biotechnology acceptance in Europe
As the European Commission prepares the European Biotech Act II, expected in the third quarter of 2026, the debate on biotechnology in Europe is increasingly focused not only on innovation potential, but also on the conditions needed for uptake to be trusted, understood and socially relevant.
The B-Trust Final Event will bring together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, civil society and other key stakeholders to explore how co-creation and trust-building measures can support biotechnology acceptance in Europe. Alongside the presentation of the project’s results, the event will provide space to connect evidence, share practical experiences, and exchange perspectives on future policy and practice.
The programme includes (see full programme further on this page)
- Co-creation in practice: what B-Trust tested and what others can use
- Consumer perspectives: insights from consumer studies
- Ethics, trust and societal expectations
- Principles and measures for building trust on biotechnology
- Lessons from implementation: what others are taking forward
- Key takeaways on uptake, stakeholder engagement and trust building
- European Biotech Act II considerations: high-level roundtable discussion
After lunch, the programme will continue at the same venue with an additional session, Next-Gen Food Roadmaps, which you are also welcome to attend.
More info on 'Next-Gen Food Roadmaps' here
In the afternoon there will be a session hosted by Fevia "IPCEI workshop".
More info on "IPCEI workshop" here
Programma
08:30
Registration
09:00
Welcome and opening remarks
Gus Verhaeghe, Flanders’ FOOD, B-Trust coordinator
09:05
Setting the scene: why trust and uptake matter in the current EU biotechnology debate
EU policy expert
09:15
B-Trust in context: what the project set out to address
Laurien Van Dyck, VIB – Flanders Institute for Biotechnology
09:25
B-trust methodology and barriers on biotech trust building
Veerle Rijckaert, Alice Down the Rabbit Hole
9:45
Principles and measures on biotech trust building
Nina Kellner, Flanders’ FOOD
10:10
Ethics, trust and societal expectations
Soner Bargu, Innovethic, FEASTS Project
10:25
Co-creation in practice: what B-Trust tested and what others can use
Charlotte Boone, Alice Down the Rabbit Hole
10:45
Coffee Break
11:05
Key takeaways from interaction with Asia/N-America/EU
Anni Simonsen, Food and Biocluster Denmark
11:15
Lessons from implementation: what worked in co-creation, and what other projects are taking forward
Wim van Camp, Biovia
11:40
High-level roundtable
What should the European Commission consider in preparation the European Biotech Act II? Considerations from the sector.
Panellists
- European commission
- BIC- Biobased Industries Consortium (Estela Lopez-Hermoso)
- EBCA - European Bioeconomy Cluster Alliance (Inge Arents)
- Europabio (Claire Skentelbery or Oana Iacob-Le Roy)
12:05
Conclusions and closing remarks
Gus Verhaeghe, Flanders’ FOOD
12:15
Networking lunch
