Koppert Cress opens: The Edible Jungle – an expedition where the future of food comes alive

The Edible Jungle is a living, breathing and entirely edible ecosystem. It offers chefs, flavour explorers, policymakers and innovators an expedition guided by specially trained Rangers, inviting them to rediscover the power and diversity of nature. On 24 and 25 November 2025, this new Edible Jungle was celebrated with a select group of guests from gastronomy, horticulture, healthcare and innovation.

A curiosity cabinet of edible plants
Koppert Cress produces cresses and microgreens in the Westland region and distributes them throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Based on more than 25 years of innovation, Koppert Cress's Edible Jungle brings together more than 150 edible plants: from cress to mature plants, from rare botanical finds to experimental varieties from the living test lab.

“Here, you can smell, taste, and marvel,” says general manager Stijn Baan. “Everyone who steps into the jungle experiences how rich and surprising the world of plants really is.”

Monday: on a culinary expedition
On Monday, 90 guests from the culinary world—from Michelin-starred chefs to suppliers and product developers—made their way through the dense jungle landscape full of botanical surprises, aromatic discoveries, and edible curiosities. They were not given a traditional tour, but rather a multisensory tasting expedition with unexpected textures, intense botanical flavors, and experiments from the living test lab that surprised even seasoned chefs.

Tuesday: sustainability, health & greenhouse horticulture
On Tuesday, the Edible Jungle was opened to pioneers from the worlds of policy, health, and greenhouse horticulture. Visitors were presented with a vision of the future in which plant power, health, and technology come together seamlessly.

Transparency
Koppert Cress wants to give visitors a broader perspective on the food system. The jungle is a conversation starter in this regard. Stijn Baan: "Nature is the basis of everything we do at Koppert Cress, but sometimes it feels like we are living in a world of extremes. On the one hand, there is nature-inclusive, regenerative agriculture, and on the other, the high-tech world of greenhouse horticulture, which seem to be polar opposites in terms of sustainability. I see it differently. Our approach is at least as sustainable, and I think we both play a role in a future-proof food system." Koppert Cress reports annually on its sustainability efforts, goals, and results in its own sustainability magazine, Cress Compass.

Explore yourself
“Our ambition is to inspire visitors and encourage them to think differently about food,” says Stijn Baan. Anyone who wants to is welcome to visit the Edible Jungle by appointment. From kitchen brigades to schools and from policymakers to innovation teams. In addition, the new experience environment in Westland also offers numerous possibilities as a unique meeting or event location.

photocredits - Martijn van Leeuwen, FITCHD