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Prof. Dr. Johan Garssen, Chair of Future Food Utrecht and Director of the Immunology Platform at Danone Research, represented UU|Future Food Utrecht during an inspiring and forward-looking week at the Netherlands Pavilion at World Expo Osaka in June 2025. Together with partners from Danone Global Research & Innovation, and supported by the Utrecht Region and Food Valley, he took part in high-level dialogues exploring how science, sustainability, and health can be brought together to shape the future of food.

In his talk, “Food as a Key Player in Health Maintenance and Immunity”, Prof. Garssen highlighted the critical role nutrition plays in strengthening human health and resilience. With global pressures on natural resources and the environmental impact of animal-based diets, transitioning to sustainable, alternative proteins is not only essential for the planet, but also for long-term public health.

Experts from academia, business, and government in both Japan and the Netherlands engaged in meaningful exchanges throughout the week. Many Japanese stakeholders responded enthusiastically to Prof. Garssen’s vision, opening doors to new opportunities for scientific and strategic collaboration.

At Future Food Utrecht, we are proud to contribute to these international conversations. This event demonstrated the global relevance of the interdisciplinary research taking place in our region, and we look forward to building lasting partnerships on the road to Expo 2025 and beyond.