NoPalm Ingredients partners with NIZO to launch demonstration factory for sustainable yeast oils

NETHERLANDS – The Dutch biotech start-up, NoPalm Ingredients, has partnered with NIZO Food Research to establish its first Demonstration Factory at the Food Innovation Campus in Ede.

For the first time, NoPalm will run its entire process for producing palm oil alternatives, including coconut and shea butter substitutes, under one roof. 

This transition from pilot-scale to industrial-scale production positions the company as a frontrunner in making circular yeast oils a reliable and scalable solution for the global food and cosmetics industries.

“The step towards our first factory is a concrete milestone in our ambition to become a leader in yeast oil production,” said Lars Langhout, CEO and Co-founder of NoPalm Ingredients. 

The demonstration facility will launch with an initial capacity of several hundred tons per year, with plans to scale up to more than 1,200 tons annually. 

“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 scale,” Lars Langhout added.

For customers, this ensures access to sustainable oil alternatives and provides a testing ground for new raw materials and process improvements. For suppliers and buyers, the site offers reliable deliveries backed by long-term contracts and optimized logistics.

“With this factory, we prove that we are ready to deliver at an industrial scale,” said Julie Cortal, CCO at NoPalm Ingredients. “By taking the entire process into our own hands, we maintain maximum control over every step, from raw material to end product, ensuring consistent quality, high standards, and security of supply.”

The location in Ede is strategic. Since 2023, NIZO has been developing the Food Innovation Campus as a hub for food transition and biotechnology.

“The arrival of NoPalm Ingredients strengthens the region’s fermentation cluster, applying innovation to fats, an often-overlooked but essential part of the food transition,” said Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO Food Research.

First industrial production is planned for late 2026, with expansion in 2027 and 2028. The site will create approximately 25 new jobs, complementing the company’s existing 25-person team at its headquarters in Wageningen.

“This is the crucial step that paves the way for our first full-scale commercial factory,” added Jeroen Blansjaar, COO of NoPalm Ingredients. 

Supported by Oost NL, the Province of Gelderland, and the Municipality of Ede, the project reinforces the Netherlands as a hub for sustainable food innovation.

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