Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk: Company Profile

Background

Overview

Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk is a leading international expert in food system sustainability, specializing in environmental footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) within the agri-food sector. The company assists organizations in understanding and mitigating their environmental impact across the food value chain by providing tailored consultancy and developing advanced software solutions.

Mission and Vision

The mission of Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk is to create a sustainable and healthy planet for current and future generations by enabling the agri-food sector to implement effective sustainability practices. Their vision is to be the reference partner for science-based sustainability solutions in the food industry, supporting the transition to more positive food systems.

Primary Area of Focus

The company focuses on environmental footprinting, offering services such as product and corporate LCA studies, footprint methodology and standard development, data solutions, sustainability software solutions, LCA and footprinting training, and sustainable nutrition research projects.

Industry Significance

By providing actionable insights into the environmental impacts of food products, Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk plays a crucial role in advancing sustainability within the agri-food sector. Their expertise supports organizations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimizing resource use, and promoting sustainable practices throughout the food supply chain.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

• Environmental Footprinting: Conduct comprehensive LCA studies to assess the environmental impact of products and organizations.

• Sustainability Solutions: Develop and implement data-driven software tools and methodologies to support sustainable practices in the agri-food sector.

• Capacity Building: Provide training and resources to enhance sustainability knowledge and skills within client organizations.

Specific Areas of Specialization

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Evaluating the environmental impact of products and services from cradle to grave.

• Environmental Footprinting: Measuring and managing the environmental performance of products and organizations.

• Sustainable Nutrition: Researching and promoting diets that are both healthy and environmentally sustainable.

Key Technologies Utilized

• Agri-footprint Database: A comprehensive life cycle inventory database for the agriculture and food sector, widely used for LCA studies.

• FastCrop™ Footprint Tool: A digital solution developed to assist horticulture growers in calculating their CO₂ footprints.

Primary Markets Targeted

Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk serves a diverse clientele within the agri-food value chain, including:

• Ingredient Producers: Companies involved in the production of raw materials for the food industry.

• Food Manufacturers: Organizations that process raw materials into finished food products.

• Retailers: Businesses that sell food products directly to consumers.

• Agricultural Sector: Farmers and growers seeking to improve the sustainability of their practices.

Financials and Funding

Specific financial details regarding Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk's funding history, total funds raised, recent funding rounds, and notable investors are not publicly disclosed. The company operates as a subsidiary of Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability.

Pipeline Development

Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk's pipeline development focuses on:

• Product and Corporate Footprinting Studies: Conducting LCA studies to assess the environmental impact of products and organizations.

• Methodology and Standard Development: Creating and harmonizing environmental calculation rules for sectors and industries.

• Sustainability Software Solutions: Developing and implementing data-driven tools to support sustainable practices.

• Training and Capacity Building: Providing education and resources to enhance sustainability knowledge within client organizations.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

• Agri-footprint Database: A comprehensive life cycle inventory database for the agriculture and food sector, widely used for LCA studies.

• FastCrop™ Footprint Tool: A digital solution developed to assist horticulture growers in calculating their CO₂ footprints.

Significant Scientific Methods

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from cradle to grave.

• Environmental Footprinting: Measuring and managing the environmental performance of products and organizations.

AI-Driven Capabilities

While specific AI-driven capabilities are not detailed, the company's focus on developing data-driven software solutions suggests the integration of advanced data analytics and potentially AI technologies to enhance sustainability assessments.

Leadership Team

Wouter Berkhout

• Position: General Manager

• Professional Background: With 20 years of leadership experience in agriculture, digital innovation, and sustainability, Wouter has held senior roles at Syngenta Group across multiple regions. He specializes in business growth and transformation and holds degrees in Economics and Business Administration.

Nadine Mooren

• Position: Commercial Director

• Professional Background: Nadine leads the sales, business development, and marketing teams, driving sustainable growth and establishing key partnerships. With over 15 years of experience in the food sector, including procurement, marketing, sales, and sustainability, she is committed to advancing sustainability in the agri-food industry.

Jasper Scholten

• Position: Director Consultancy

• Professional Background: Jasper manages the consulting department, which includes LCA studies, development of LCI databases, LCA reviews, and LCA standard development, such as EU Production Environmental Footprint (PEF).

Bart Durlinger

• Position: Director - Digital Solutions

• Professional Background: Bart oversees the development of digital solutions, focusing on creating software tools that support sustainability assessments and environmental footprinting.

Meike

• Position: Marketing & Communication

• Professional Background: Meike is responsible for all marketing communication-related activities, such as websites and newsletters. She has a background in marketing communication and graduated from Wageningen University and Research.

Riki Hissink

• Position: Senior Software Developer

• Professional Background: Riki has a background in Environmental & Sustainability sciences (MSc) and software development. At Blonk, she translates complex sustainability questions into user-friendly tools.

Lotte Ramekers

• Position: Senior Software Developer

• Professional Background: Lotte is a software developer with a master's degree in artificial intelligence. At Blonk, she focuses on finding reliable solutions to complex technical problems.

Anne Fleur von Barnau Sythoff

• Position: Software Developer

• Professional Background: Anne Fleur graduated in Bioinformatics at the University of Applied Sciences in Leiden. She works on the animal and feed modules for APS-footprint.

Anne Gaasbeek

• Position: Team Lead and Senior LCA Expert

• Professional Background: Anne brings over 10 years of experience in sustainability within the agri-food sector, including more than 8 years of specialized expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental footprinting consultancy.

Gregorio Brussino

• Position: Consultant

• Professional Background: Gregorio joined Blonk after his internship, where he investigated how process simulation tools could help in solving data gaps in life cycle assessments.

Daniel Egas Galarza

• Position: Business Development Manager Spain

• Professional Background: Daniel holds a PhD in sustainability of agri-food systems and brings over 7 years of expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and footprinting.

Leadership Changes

As of April 2023, Blonk joined Mérieux NutriSciences, operating as a separate business unit within the group. Hans Blonk, the founder and CEO of Blonk, continues to manage the company and also serves as the business development director of the international environmental footprint division within Mérieux NutriSciences.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The market for environmental sustainability services in the agri-food sector is growing, driven by increasing regulatory pressures and consumer demand for sustainable practices. Companies are seeking expertise in environmental footprinting to comply with regulations and enhance their sustainability credentials.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in this space include:

• Quantis: Specializes in sustainability consulting and environmental footprinting, providing innovative science-based solutions to help organizations improve their environmental performance and meet sustainability goals.