What Bionext does

Bionext is a Dutch cooperative association (Coöperatieve vereniging Bionext) headquartered in Ede, Netherlands, that functions as the chain organization for organic agriculture and food in the Netherlands. It is governed by three member associations — Biohuis (over 1,100 organic farmers and growers), BioNederland (organic producers and trading companies), and Biowinkelvereniging (organic specialty shops) — which together represent every link of the Dutch organic supply chain from farmer to retailer. Its service portfolio comprises three core service lines: Belangenbehartiging (interest representation in Dutch and EU policy), Advies & ondersteuning (advisory and project support for businesses, organizations, and governments), and Projecten & Campagnes (market development, sustainability, and innovation projects such as robust potato varieties, food waste reduction, and carbon farming).

Supporting products and platforms include the consumer-facing biologisch-keurmerk.nl portal (launched 2023), the annual Trendrapport Biologisch, topical Greenpapers, communication toolkits, the Biologische Vragenlijn consumer service operated on behalf of Skal Biocontrole, and the BioAcademy education platform co-founded in 2024 with five commercial partners. The flagship event is Biobeurs, the Netherlands' premier organic trade fair (5,600 visitors, 160 exhibitors, 30 knowledge sessions in 2026). Bionext holds the vice-presidency of IFOAM Organics Europe for the 2026-2029 term, giving it formal influence over EU organic policy.

Bionext operates a subscription-recurring revenue model funded primarily through membership contributions from the three supporting associations and project-based work, including government-commissioned programs. It employs approximately 20 advisors and experts (firmographic range 11-50). It does not sell technology products, APIs, or commercial services in a typical SaaS sense; its value is the convening, advocacy, and knowledge infrastructure it provides to a fragmented organic sector that accounts for 4.1% of Dutch supermarket food turnover (€475M in Q1 2026) and 16.6% of supermarket egg sales.

Name

Bionext

Legal name

Coöperatieve vereniging Bionext

Website

https://bionext.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bionext is the Dutch cooperative chain organization for organic agriculture and food, providing advocacy, advisory, and project services to three member associations representing organic farmers, producers/traders, and specialty shops across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture Cooperative Services

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

Keywords

• Organic agriculture advocacy
• Cooperative chain organization
• Food policy consulting
• Sustainable farming network
• Organic market development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Bionext operates as a cooperative association (Coöperatieve vereniging) with membership fees from three supporting associations: Biowinkelvereniging (organic shops), Biohuis (organic farmers and growers), and BioNederland (organic producers and traders). Revenue is generated through membership contributions and potentially project-based work for government ministries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bionext is a cooperative association that serves as the Dutch chain organization for organic agriculture and food. It provides interest representation (Belangenbehartiging), advisory services (Advies & ondersteuning), and project and campaign management (Projecten & Campagnes) to its three supporting member associations representing farmers, producers/traders, and organic shops.

Product overview

Bionext is a cooperative association serving as the chain organization for organic agriculture and food in the Netherlands. The organization offers a portfolio of services including interest representation (Belangenbehartiging), advisory services (Advies & ondersteuning), and project management (Projecten & Campagnes). Supporting products include the consumer-facing biologisch-keurmerk.nl website, educational platform BioAcademy, communication toolkits, annual Trendrapport Biologisch, Greenpapers on sector topics, and the Biologische Vragenlijn consumer service. The flagship event is the Biobeurs trade fair. Bionext connects Dutch organic chains from farmer to consumer, supported by three member associations: Biohuis (farmers), BioNederland (producers and traders), and Biowinkelvereniging (organic shops).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advies & ondersteuning Advisory services and project support for businesses, organizations, and governments wanting to strengthen organic agriculture and food, including strategic policy formation, project management, market analyses, and communications.
• Belangenbehartiging (Interest Representation) Interest representation services for the organic sector in the Netherlands and at European level, engaging with governments, policymakers, and societal organizations.
• Projecten & Campagnes Various projects and campaigns addressing societal themes where organic can contribute maximally, including market development, sustainability, innovation, and sector-specific initiatives such as robust potato varieties, food waste reduction, and carbon farming.
• Biobeurs The premier trade fair for the organic sector in the Netherlands, bringing together the organic chain from farmer to consumer, featuring exhibitions, workshops, and knowledge sessions. In 2026, Biobeurs attracted 5,600 visitors, 160 exhibitors, and 30 knowledge sessions. Next edition scheduled for 10-11 March 2027 in Omnisport Apeldoorn.
• BioAcademy Education initiative connecting demand for and supply of knowledge and skills through courses for professionals in the organic sector. Co-founded by Bionext with Green Organics, De Groene Weg, Eosta, BDEKO, and Nautilus Organic.
• Biologisch-keurmerk.nl Consumer-facing information website about organic products, launched by Bionext in 2023, providing comprehensive and reliable information about organic agriculture and a toolkit for entrepreneurs.
• Trendrapport Biologisch Annual trend report published by Bionext providing an overview of developments in the organic sector, including agricultural area, number of organic farmers, and market turnover in Dutch supermarkets and organic specialty stores.
• Greenpapers Publications covering topics including biodiversity, soil, animal welfare, climate, price, health, biological regions, and claims related to organic agriculture.
• Biologische Vragenlijn Consumer questions service that answers questions about organic agriculture and food on behalf of Skal Biocontrole and Stichting EKO-keurmerk.
• Toolkits Communication toolkits for entrepreneurs and consumers including the toolkit for the organic label and 'De mooiste boodschap is bio' campaign materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organic products reached 4.1% of total supermarket food turnover in Q1 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFOAM Organics EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Bionext maintains a significant partnership with IFOAM Organics Europe. Marian Blom was elected Vice-President and Arjen van Buuren was elected as council member for the 2026-2029 term. This partnership enables Bionext to represent the Dutch organic sector at the European level and stay informed about EU policy developments.
• De Week van Ons EtencoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bionext and the organic sector joined as lead partner of De Week van Ons Eten 2026. Bio Monday on October 5 was the featured organic day, with Bionext, BioMasters, Harvest House, Green Organics, Odin, and De Groene Weg collaborating as partners.
• Stichting Samen Tegen VoedselverspillingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on food waste reduction in the organic sector. Tessa van Ruitenbeek presented Bionext's new project to develop a waste reduction approach specifically for the organic supply chain.
• BioAcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bionext co-founded BioAcademy with Green Organics, De Groene Weg, Eosta, BDEKO, and Nautilus Organic. The initiative serves as an intermediary between demand and supply of knowledge and training for professionals in the organic sector.
• SMK (Stichting Milieukeur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on robust potato varieties project with SMK and On the way to PlanetProof certification scheme, working alongside BO Akkerbouw, Dingeman Burgers, ERF BV, and research institutions.
• Wageningen University & ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on resilient potato varieties and various agricultural research projects including resistance management for Phytophthora.
• Louis Bolk InstituutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partner with over 40 years of knowledge development for sustainable agriculture, focusing on nature-inclusive agriculture and positive health.
• Skal BiocontrolecoreOthersSkal Biocontrole is the official control organization mandated by the Dutch government to inspect organic businesses. Bionext answers consumer questions referred by Skal and collaborates on regulatory matters.
• BiohuiscoreOthersOne of the three supporting member associations representing organic farmers and growers with over 1,100 members.
• BioNederlandcoreOthersOne of the three supporting member associations representing organic producers and trading companies.
• BiowinkelverenigingcoreOthersOne of the three supporting member associations representing organic specialty shops, operating mijnbiowinkel.nl.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bio Austria: Austrian organic farmers' association that represents organic farmers, runs advocacy, and coordinates market development. Operates a near-identical cooperative/association model to Bionext, but serves the Austrian market.
• Naturland: German organic farming association that certifies and represents organic producers. Operates the same membership-driven organic advocacy and certification support model as Bionext, but focused on the German market with international producer reach.

Direct peers

• Soil Association: UK-based charity that campaigns for organic and sustainable food, runs organic certification, and operates farmer-facing programs. Comparable to Bionext in scope (advocacy, certification support, industry events) but at UK scale rather than Dutch.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Switzerland-headquartered organic agriculture research institute with operations across Europe. Produces Trendrapport-style publications and research that compete with Bionext's knowledge offerings, and works closely with similar farmer and policy audiences.
• IFOAM Organics Europe: Brussels-based federation representing European organic stakeholders; Bionext is an active member with leadership representation (vice-president and council seats). IFOAM is the closest functional peer, providing EU-level organic advocacy, policy work, and knowledge sharing comparable to Bionext's domestic role.
• Organic Trade Association: US-based membership association for the organic industry, providing advocacy, education, and industry events. Operates the same chain-spanning trade association model as Bionext, connecting organic farmers, processors, distributors, and retailers in the North American market.

Others

• Wageningen University & Research: Leading Dutch agricultural research institution that co-produces organic research with Bionext (e.g., robust potato varieties, Phytophthora resistance). Not a direct competitor but enables and shapes the organic knowledge ecosystem Bionext operates in.
• Skal Biocontrole: Dutch government-designated organic certification body. Functions as the regulatory counterpart to Bionext, with Bionext handling consumer questions referred by Skal; positioned as a systemic partner rather than competitor in the Dutch organic ecosystem.
• Louis Bolk Instituut: Dutch research institute focused on sustainable agriculture, regenerative farming, and positive health. A formal research partner of Bionext (40+ years), making it a thematically adjacent peer in organic knowledge production rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• LTO Nederland: Dutch agricultural employers' organization representing the full Dutch ag sector (conventional and organic). Not a direct organic specialist peer, but competes with Bionext for farmer mindshare, government consultation seats, and policy influence in The Hague.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bionext
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bionext-ketenorganisatie
• Xx.com/BionextTweets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bionext