Europe imports millions of tons of soybeans every year. But what if the future of farming could change that completely?
In this episode, Simon Leich sits down with Benjamin Laga, founder and CEO of Protealis, to explore how AI, genetics, and next-generation breeding could help Europe grow more of its own protein and reduce its dependence on imported soy.
Benjamin shares his journey from biotech startups to global corporations like BASF, and explains why he left the corporate world to build a company focused on sustainable agriculture and food security.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
This episode is a fascinating look at the future of agriculture, food independence, and the technology changing how crops are developed.
Watch now and discover how one startup is trying to transform Europe’s food system.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:36 Meet Benjamin Laga
01:32 From Startup Life to Big Corporations
05:18 How Benjamin Started Protealis
07:52 Building a Company with Purpose
09:25 Starting a Business During Covid
10:23 Why Europe Imports So Much Protein
12:09 Soybeans & Europe’s Nitrogen Problem
14:51 Using AI to Improve Crop Breeding
18:16 How AI Predicts Better Crops
22:44 Why Soybeans Struggle in Europe
25:54 Developing High Protein Crops
27:10 Growing Soybeans Across Europe
28:19 Turning Research Into a Real Business
30:00 Building the Right Company Culture
32:12 Hiring People for Startup Life
34:09 Belgium’s Growing AgTech Scene
35:34 The Future Vision for Pr
Useful links:
Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/
Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/
