West Brabant is committed to a circular, plant-based economy: ‘Entrepreneurship is in our blood’

When you say West Brabant, you say agriculture. Traditionally, there are many agricultural companies in the area between Breda and Bergen op Zoom, such as sugar beet and soft fruit growers. The people are enterprising and the land is fertile. Entrepreneurs often pass their business on from generation to generation – they all have their own story with peaks and valleys.

Major transitions are underway, the economy is becoming circular and plant-based. A complicated process with many challenges, but also new opportunities. The West Brabant Economic Board’s ambition is for the region to be the forerunner in the transition to this new economy by 2030. We are already working hard: Ikea’s plant-based meatballs, eaten worldwide, come from the region.

REWIN, the development organization of West Brabant, helps the region solve social issues and find new opportunities. The organization started in 1986 – in the middle of the economic recession – as an acquisition party to attract companies to the region. REWIN now focuses on ecosystem development through the implementation of four regional programs including Circular Entrepreneurship and Plant-based Entrepreneurship.

“We strengthen the economy and stimulate innovation. The regional ecosystem – the collaboration between business, governments and education – plays an important role in this,” says Mathijs van Campenhout, strategic advisor at REWIN. Inclusivity also plays a major role. “New products and services must be accessible to everyone. Not just for a select group of people who can afford bio-based cavity wall insulation or a more expensive meat substitute.”

New markets and revenue models

What does the ecosystem achieve together? In addition to the development of new food, such as vegetable balls, other biobased products are also being developed. The residual flows of potatoes are used for biobased plastics. And sugar beet is no longer just made from sugar. The crop also provides important ingredients in dishwasher cubes, green energy, personal care items and sustainable plastic. Van Campenhout: “Many innovations in the region come from corporate and SME companies that are looking for future-proof new markets and revenue models. Those companies continue to develop, entrepreneurship is in their blood. That is very different from startups that want to do something radically different.”

Digitization and gaming

But there is more than just agriculture and diverse SMEs in West Brabant. “In addition to the established companies, there are also many startups here,” he continues. According to Van Campenhout, the young companies mainly focus on digital matters. For example, the startup Natuurhuisje.nl but also CM.com were founded in the region.

Entrepreneurial blood

REWIN tries to facilitate startups as best as possible so that ideas do not remain on the shelf and students are given the space to develop in the region. Van Campenhout sees that entrepreneurs who previously worked at large companies in the Randstad are coming to West Brabant to build their own startup there. “These people often grew up in the region and come back to live and work here. In this way, they also take back the knowledge they have acquired.” Over the years, REWIN has set up a program for startups with the municipality of Breda, the Brabant partners BOM and Braventure: B’Wise. “There are now more than 50 startups, and a new floor will be opened this year.”

According to Van Campenhout, the combination between startups and renowned companies is an important recipe for a cleaner, more sustainable, smarter and more social future. “You can’t make it with the traditional industry, but neither can you with startups alone. Diversity is important to help each other move forward.”