Europe imports millions of tons of soybeans every year. But what if the future of farming could change that completely?

In this episode, Simon Leich sits down with Benjamin Laga, founder and CEO of Protealis, to explore how AI, genetics, and next-generation breeding could help Europe grow more of its own protein and reduce its dependence on imported soy.

Benjamin shares his journey from biotech startups to global corporations like BASF, and explains why he left the corporate world to build a company focused on sustainable agriculture and food security.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

Why Europe depends so heavily on imported soybeans
How protein crops could reshape the future of farming
How AI is accelerating crop breeding and genetic selection
Why sustainable farming starts with better crop systems
The challenge of turning scientific innovation into real-world impact

This episode is a fascinating look at the future of agriculture, food independence, and the technology changing how crops are developed.
Watch now and discover how one startup is trying to transform Europe’s food system.

Tune in on…

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726

…to listen to the latest episodes!

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:36 Meet Benjamin Laga

01:32 From Startup Life to Big Corporations

05:18 How Benjamin Started Protealis

07:52 Building a Company with Purpose

09:25 Starting a Business During Covid

10:23 Why Europe Imports So Much Protein

12:09 Soybeans & Europe’s Nitrogen Problem

14:51 Using AI to Improve Crop Breeding

18:16 How AI Predicts Better Crops

22:44 Why Soybeans Struggle in Europe

25:54 Developing High Protein Crops

27:10 Growing Soybeans Across Europe

28:19 Turning Research Into a Real Business

30:00 Building the Right Company Culture

32:12 Hiring People for Startup Life

34:09 Belgium’s Growing AgTech Scene

35:34 The Future Vision for Pr

Useful links:

Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/

Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/