Two researchers from HZ University of Applied Sciences have started PhD research under the umbrella of the Delta Climate Center (DCC).
HZ and the DCC are collaborating with Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute. The PhD research projects focus on sustainable food production and the development of a hydrogen economy in Zeeland.
Saskia Nijhof | Towards a Sustainable Food System in Zeeland
Saskia is a researcher at the HZ Knowledge Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Within the DCC’s flagship project Delta Protein, she is investigating the potential of a local, blue-green sector in which seaweed, algae, and shellfish play a key role. Her research focuses on how consumers and entrepreneurs can support this transition.
She examines, among other things, the low acceptance of marine food sources such as mussels and seaweed by consumers. “Through awareness, local chain collaboration, and innovation, we want to overcome these barriers,” she says. She is working with Food Delta Zeeland and local entrepreneurs on initiatives such as the development of plant-based seafood—plant-based alternatives to meat and fish made from beans, mycoprotein, and seaweed.
Wim Huibregtse | Zeeland’s Green Hydrogen Economy
As part of his PhD, Wim Huibregtse is researching how Zeeland can develop a sustainable hydrogen economy that balances innovation, governance, and the environment. “The Flemish-Dutch Scheldt delta is the largest industrial hydrogen cluster in the Benelux and holds great potential in the energy transition,” he says.
Established companies and startups are investing in large-scale hydrogen production in Zeeland. Wim is studying how the interaction between businesses and governance influences the development of this emerging sector. “I want to better understand how a hydrogen economy takes shape within the political and economic reality.”