Real Marina Hotel, Olhão, Portugal
Nov 27-28, 2025
It is with great pleasure that we announce the third edition of the International Conference of CellAgri Portugal. The first two editions of our conference have been a resounding success, and we are very much looking forward to meet you once more in 2025. This edition will be hosted in the 27th and 28th of November in Algarve, in the south of Portugal. Once again, we will be joined by incredible keynote speakers, will have many exciting scientific presentations and poster sessions, as well as engaging round table discussions. Save the date on your calendar and stay tuned for further news!
Our goal is to foster and encourage the collaborative development of cellular agriculture within Portugal, while also sharing the latest scientific and innovative advancements related to cellular agriculture products, such as cultivated meat, fish, milk, collagen, leather or fur, both nationally and internationally.
Joana Rosa
João Garcia
Maria João Maia
Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins and the Microbial Food Hub
Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro is a Reader at Imperial College London, where he leads a research group working on Engineering Biology and Sustainability. He is the director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins and the Microbial Food Hub. His research focuses on the use of microorganisms to convert renewable feedstocks into valuable products (such as food ingredients). He has published over 150 articles, most on topics related to microbial bioproduction (precision, biomass and traditional fermentation).
Daan Luining
Founder and CIO and Meatable
Daan Luining has been working as a molecular biologist from at the start of the cultivated meat movement. He was part of the team that made the first cultivated meat hamburger in the world, and has been working on his dream to make cultivated meat a reality ever since. New Harvest, THE non-profit for cellular agriculture, was Daan's next destination, for which he helped develop their fellowship program that now supports over a dozen researches around the world. When back in Europe, Daan developed a unique plan to make cultivated meat available for everyone and founded Meatable. Meatable is pioneering a way of producing real meat without harming anyone or anything. It isn't like meat, it is meat. Efficient. Sustainable. Cruelty-free. And most importantly of all, delicious. The new natural.
Prof Hanna Tuomisto
Sustainable Food Systems, University of Helsinki
Hanna Tuomisto is the professor of sustainable food systems at the University of Helsinki and at the Natural Resources Institute Finland. Her research interests are focused on development of sustainability assessment methods and estimating the potential of novel food production technologies to improve the sustainability of food systems. She has over 16 years of experience in the field of environmental sustainability assessment of cell-cultured food, such as cultivated meat, microbial proteins and recombinant proteins. Tuomisto holds an MSc degree in Agroecology from the University of Helsinki and a doctoral degree from the University of Oxford. She gained post postdoctoral research experience at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Prof Francesco Montanari
Food Law, Wageningen University, NOVA School of Law, and University of Lisbon
Francesco Montanari is a food lawyer with over 25 years of
professional experience at European and international level. He holds
a PhD in EU as well as a MSc in Food Consumption Science. Francesco
has previously worked for the UK retail sector and the European
Commission (DG SANTE) in Brussels, covering a wide range of
legislative dossiers relevant to the food chain. Registered with the
Bar of Lisbon and Bologna, he currently heads the food law and
regulatory practice of Arcadia International in Lisbon. With Arcadia,
he has performed over 30 food-related studies, evaluations and impact
assessments for the European institutions. In parallel, he regularly
advises food companies on novel food and ingredients, R&D, labelling
and enforcement issues.
Francesco researches and teaches food law at Wageningen University, in
the Netherlands, as well as at Nova School of Law and the University
of Lisbon, in Portugal. He has authored several academic and
professional publications about food law, notably on food innovation,
food labelling, and sustainability.
Prof René Wijffels
Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University
René H. Wijffels serves as a Board Member of CAN and is the Chairholder of the Bioprocess Engineering Group at Wageningen University, where he leads the Cellular Agriculture Team. He is recognized for his pioneering contributions to developing scalable bioprocesses and for advancing academic-industry collaborations in the field.
Diana Oliveira
PFx Biotech Co-Founder and Head of R&D
Dr. Diana Oliveira is a food scientist and biotechnology innovator with over 15 years of experience bridging academia and industry across Europe. She holds a PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Reading (UK) and has led multidisciplinary research in sustainable food systems, fermentation, and bioactive ingredient development. Diana is Co-Founder and Head of R&D at PFx Biotech, Lda Biotech, a Portuguese start-up pioneering highly bioactive, animal-free, and sustainable precision-fermented proteins for advanced nutrition. Her expertise spans food ingredient functionality, gut microbiota modulation, and precision fermentation technologies. Throughout her career she has managed international R&D collaborations, secured competitive EU and national funding (H2020, EIC, FCT), and guided innovation teams toward market-ready solutions linking biotechnology, health, and sustainability.
18h00 – 20h00
Early Check-in / Registration
08h00 – 09h00
Check-in / Registration
09h00 – 09h30
Welcome Session
09h30 – 10h05
Keynote Speaker: Diana Oliveira
10h05 – 10h50
Oral presentations | Session 1
10h50 – 11h20
Coffee Break & Posters
11h20 – 12h20
Roundtable | Unlocking Scale in CellAg through Collaborative Manufacturing Models
12h20 – 12h55
Corporate Session
12h55 – 13h15
Invited Speaker: Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
13h15 – 14h20
Lunch Break
14h20 – 14h55
Keynote Speaker: Daan Luining
14h55 – 15h40
Oral Presentations | Session 2
15h40 – 16h20
Coffee Break & Posters
16h20 – 17h20
Oral Presentations | Session 3
17h20 – 18h20
Corporate Session
20h00 – 22h00
Conference Dinner
09h00 – 10h30
Roundtable | Food Tech Innovation in Europe: Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities for Cellular Agriculture
10h30 – 11h00
Oral Presentations | Session 4
11h00 – 11h30
Coffee Break & Posters
11h30 – 12h05
Keynote Speaker: Hanna Tuomisto
12h05 – 13h05
Oral Presentations | Session 5
13h05 – 14h20
Lunch Break
14h20 – 15h05
Oral Presentations | Session 6
15h05 – 15h35
Pitch Presentations
15h35 – 16h15
Coffee Break & Posters
16h15 – 16h45
Oral Presentations | Session 7
16h45 – 17h45
Roundtable | Farm and Aquafarm Integration and Consumer Acceptance in Cultivated Meat and Seafood Systems
17h45 – 18h00
Closing remarks
Conference and Dinner —
Real Marina Hotel
The venue is located in Olhão, a picturesque city in the Algarve region
of Portugal. Known for its rich maritime heritage, Olhão boasts a
charming old town, vibrant markets, and stunning coastal scenery. It
serves as the gateway to the breathtaking Ria Formosa Natural Park, a
protected lagoon system teeming with diverse wildlife. Just off the
coast, visitors can explore the idyllic islands of Armona, Culatra, and
Farol, each offering pristine beaches with crystal-clear waters, perfect
for relaxation and water activities. With its fresh seafood, traditional
Portuguese charm, and stunning natural surroundings, Olhão provides a
unique and memorable setting for the conference.
For more information on local attractions, visit:
Visit Olhão
Below are the details for the official conference hotel, including booking information, special rates, and activities provided by the hotel. We also offer alternative accommodation options in Olhão for your consideration.
To ensure a comfortable stay, we have secured special rates for CellAgriPT 2025 attendees at the Real Marina Hotel & Spa and the Real Marina Residence Apartments.
Reservations with special prices only possible until October 31st.
Hotel Reservations (1-2 Guests)
For single or double occupancy rooms, please use the following link and ensure you select the correct number of guests (1 or 2):
Real Marina Hotel & Spa (RMH): Book Here
Apartment Reservations (3-6 Guests)
For groups of 3 to 6 guests, we recommend staying at the Real Marina Residence Apartments, where T2 and T3 apartments are available at special rates. When clicking the link below, please change the number of guests for the desired accommodation in the upper field so that you can see the available accommodation.
Real Marina Residence (RMR): Book Here
For any questions, feel free to contact Joana Inácio, the reservation coordinator for the official conference hotel, at joana.inacio@realhotelsgroup.com.
Local Tours & Activities Provided by the Hotel
Enhance your stay in Olhão with unique experiences that showcase the region's culture and natural beauty.
Walking Tour of Olhão — €8 per person
Explore the city's
legends, churches, and markets on a guided walking
tour.
Bike Tour to the Salt Pans — €20 per
person
Discover the traditional salt flats and learn about
this historical industry while enjoying a scenic ride.
Ride through the stunning landscapes of Ria Formosa, a protected natural reserve home to diverse wildlife.
All tours last approximately 1 hour and are subject to hotel availability.
For island excursions, a representative from Passeios Ria Formosa is available at the hotel to provide information on boat trips to the islands.
For those seeking alternative accommodations in Olhão, here are some options available as of January 16, 2025. Please note that availability and conditions may change, and we are not responsible for any modifications. You may also explore Booking.com or Airbnb for additional accommodations in the area.
B&B HOTEL Olhão Algarve 3* (1.8 km from the Venue)
Av. D.João VI, 100 , 8700-136 Olhão, Portugal
+351 289 154 618
hotel.olhao@hotelbb.com
Alma Algarvia - Alojamento Local (350 m from the Venue)
Rua José Amâncio Correia Junior nº2, Loja D, 8700-292 Olhão,
Portugal
+351 912 334 432
info@almaalgarvia.pt
The closest airport to the venue hotel is Faro airport and it is 15 km
away. From there you can take a shuttle bus to the city center then a
bus or train to Olhão:
https://www.rome2rio.com/fr/map/Faro/Olh%C3%A3o
You can also take a taxi (prices are usually around 25 EUR) or a private
shuttle:
https://www.faroairporttransfersalgarve.com/en/real-marina-hotel-spa
https://www.algarvefamilytransfers.com/taxi-from-faro-airport-to-real-marina-hotel-spa-olhao/
Uber and Bolt are also operating between Faro and Olhão (prices are usually between €10-15).
If you fly transatlantic, you may have a direct flight to Faro from the UK or other big European airports. Otherwise you have to change flights in Lisbon.
Another option would be Lisbon Airport as destination. At the airport
you can take a metro to the central train station and travel to Faro in
a comfortable high speed train, then you change to a local train that
brings you to Olhão:
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en
There are also affordable busses from Seville (Spain) to Faro but that requires an additional bus from Seville airport to Seville bus terminal then from Faro to Olhão.
Cellular Agriculture is a rapidly growing area. Get involved in this conference, increase your visibility and get the opportunity to network with leaders of this area.
Gold partner
Industrial scale
Pilot scale
Lab scale
Petri-dish scale
Institutional partners
Awards
Please consider the following information:
Submission of abstracts for oral presentations is already closed. You can still submit your abstract for poster presentation. You will be informed about the decision of the CellAgri Portugal Conference Scientific Committee by e-mail.
| Category |
Early Bird Registration
(until September 30th) |
Normal Registration
(after September 30th) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student – Member of CellAgri Portugal | €210 | €250 | ||
| Student – Non-Member | €250 | €300 | ||
| Regular – Member of CellAgri Portugal | €300 | €350 | ||
| Regular – Non-Member | €350 | €400 | ||
All registration fees include:
Cancellation will not be refunded.