Food Hub becomes part of Food Pioneers

Food Hub is becoming part of Food Pioneers. After ten years, Joris Lohman, Joszi Smeets and Jeroen van IJzerloo are handing over the reins, and we will continue Food Hub’s courses and training programmes. For us, the acquisition is a logical next step, building on the successful courses Food Hub and Food Pioneers have developed together in the past.

Food Hub’s existing courses and training programmes will remain available. In the coming years, we will further develop and expand the offering with new themes that reflect current societal challenges, such as the protein transition, regenerative agriculture, entrepreneurship and sustainable food innovation.

Ten years of building the food transition

Food Hub was founded in 2016 by Joris Lohman and Joszi Smeets, with Jeroen van IJzerloo later joining as a partner. From the start, Food Hub set out to enable people to contribute to change in the world of food and agriculture.

Over the past ten years, thousands of professionals, entrepreneurs, students, farmers, policymakers and creative minds have been educated in the food transition by Food Hub and its network of affiliated trainers.

Food Hub grew into an important connector within the sector, sharing knowledge, supporting companies and public organisations through transformation processes and developing, among other initiatives, an accelerator programme for farmers.

In 2025, Joris, Joszi and Jeroen decided it was time for a new chapter. Joris Lohman is continuing his work as a Member of the Dutch House of Representatives, Joszi Smeets is continuing as a trainer, educator and process facilitator, and Jeroen van IJzerloo advises organisations in the food and agriculture sector.

“We look back with pride on ten years of Food Hub and everything we have built together with our team, students and partners. Knowing that this work will now continue at Food Pioneers, an organisation that shares our mission and drive, feels like the right outcome. We are each going our separate ways, but the mission we started with continues.” Joszi Smeets, co-founder of Food Hub

Food Hub continues at Food Pioneers

Through the acquisition, we are preserving Food Hub’s knowledge, experience and educational offering, while creating space to develop them further. By making Food Hub part of Food Pioneers, we can continue to develop existing knowledge and courses, connect them to our programmes for entrepreneurs and students, and make them available to a broader audience.

This allows knowledge from the sector to be translated more quickly into education, training and professional development. In doing so, we are also responding to the growing need for lifelong learning within the food and agriculture sector.

“Over the past ten years, Food Hub has built an impressive knowledge base and an engaged community of trainers, experts and participants. We want to preserve that value and help it grow further. By combining Food Hub’s strengths with our network, programmes and expertise, we can reach more people. Together, we are building a strong learning platform that helps professionals, entrepreneurs and students actively contribute to the food transition.” Filip Otten, Director of Food Pioneers

Courses and training programmes remain available

Food Hub’s existing courses and training programmes will remain available. In the coming years, we will continue to develop the offering together with trainers and partners, adding new themes and learning programmes.

We would like to thank Joris Lohman, Joszi Smeets, Jeroen van IJzerloo and the Food Hub team for everything they have built over the past ten years. We look forward to continuing the mission.

View Food Hub’s courses and training programs