RespectFarms’ facility in Schipluiden, strategically positioned near The Hague and Rotterdam, is set to commence operations on Friday, June 5, 2026. This development represents the end of a journey characterized by “years of development, collaboration and debate.”
This innovative site is notable as it stands as the first of its kind in the realm of cultivated meat production, uniquely situated on an operational dairy farm. The company highlighted that the Schipluiden site embodies a decentralized, farm-integrated approach to cultivated meat, distinguishing itself from traditional, large-scale centralized production facilities.
Ira van Eelen, co-founder of RespectFarms, emphasized, “We’re building a model where farmers remain at the centre of food production, not replaced by factories.” She further explained, “This project is about exploring how farmers can participate in and help shape the future of cultivated meat.”
Initiated in partnership with dairy farmer Corné van Leeuwen and various ecosystem collaborators, this project seeks to examine how cultivated meat can serve as an additional revenue stream for farms while ensuring that farmers maintain their crucial role in the evolution of food production.
Moreover, the facility will serve as an Experience Centre, providing a platform for farmers, policymakers, researchers, students, and community members to engage with the technology and discuss the broader implications of future food systems.
Ralf Becks, another co-founder of RespectFarms, remarked, “RespectFarms brings a global challenge back to farm scale. And once it works, we can scale it out to create impact internationally.”
