Gerard Klein Essink started Bridge2Food in 2002. He worked in the international food industry for more than 25 years after graduating in food chemistry and marketing from Wageningen University. His experience covers both business-to-consumer as well as business-to-business markets. He fulfilled roles as vice-president sales and business development manager for a FMCG company, as general manager at an international food ingredient company, and as a researcher at Wageningen University.

At the Netherlands-based Bridge2Food, he enjoys the independent and entrepreneurial environment. Enabling business growth, innovation and personal development by connecting people and businesses together is one of his main drivers.

Bridge2Food is a global leader in the plant-based foods and alternative proteins sector. Its mission is to advance actions for a better food world and to accelerate the protein transition to make plant-based foods the center of sustainable, accessible and healthy plans good for both people and the planet.

For 20 years Bridge2Food has been working to connect professionals, researchers and industry, to organize summits that grow ideas into actions, to educate in hands-on academy courses, and to develop ecosystems that foster innovation.