Europe can lead in biotech 🌍 We just need the right framework.
Today at the SME Assembly 2025 in Copenhagen, our colleague Barbara Taudorf Andersen, Director of Commercial Development and Strategic Partnerships, took the stage for a panel discussion on ‘The EU Biotech Act: a game changer for Europe’s innovators?‘ alongside Moritz Wessely (PrecisionBiome) and Mikael Wraae Valsted (DI Biosolutions), moderated by Kristin Schreiber (European Commission).
Barbara shared that Europe has the science, talent, and companies to lead globally – but regulatory hurdles are forcing innovation and investment abroad.
Her message was clear: Europe doesn’t lack ambition or capability, we lack the framework to bring our breakthroughs to European consumers.
Barbara also shared a wake-up call: the first protein we developed, BLG, will reach the US before Europe, even though it’s a natural milk protein safely consumed for centuries.
She reminded the Commission that Europe has shown it can act fast when science and safety align, as it did with COVID-19 vaccines. Why not apply the same efficiency to novel foods, when both the technology and the end-products have a long history of safe use?
Demand for dairy proteins is higher than ever, while global production keeps shrinking – driven by an ageing workforce, declining farm attractiveness, and climate pressures. Global demand for milk proteins is expected to outpace supply, with many experts warning of a “protein gap” by 2030. This could limit access to essential nutrition, especially for vulnerable populations.
Europe owns the solution to this challenge and can use it to secure European food supply, and to support other regions in the world with their self-sufficiency.
This is Europe’s moment to act and industrialize the next generation of biotech innovations at home, in a strong market, for a healthy population and resilient supply chains.
When asked for 3 key recommendations for a successful Biotech Act:
⏩ Fast-track approvals for well-known, safe proteins: so European innovation reaches European tables.
💶 Direct state support to build local production facilities: for local jobs, investment, and resilient food systems.
📈 Stronger funding models: to help biotech SMEs scale from lab to industrial production.
A huge thank you to the European Commission, the SME Assembly organizers, and to Kristin Schreiber for moderating the discussion.
