Ben Stel succeeds Harmen Smid as CEO of S&dB
S&dB is pleased to announce that Ben Stel will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer as of August 2025. Ben will join founder Gerard Otten and Judith Nickl-Buesink, who recently started in a financial role, to form the new leadership team driving the next phase of growth and innovation at S&dB.
Ben is a graduate of Wageningen University & Research and brings a strong background in agribusiness, having served in Strategy and Business Development at Agrifirm. His appointment marks a new milestone as S&dB continues to scale its unique SET (Seed-Embedding Technology) platform technology.
S&dB is entering an exciting new phase. Its vSET solution for open-field vegetable cultivation is currently being scaled as part of the EIT Food Program, in collaboration with leading partners such as G’s Growers. In parallel, S&dB is developing new applications for Controlled Environment Agriculture, where its hSET technology acts as a biobased and biodegradable growth medium—pushing the boundaries of sustainable food production.
Harmen Smid, who steps down as CEO to pursue other challenges, will continue to support the company as an investor and advisor.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ben as CEO,” said founder Gerard Otten. “His expertise and vision are a perfect fit for this stage of our journey. Together with Judith and the broader team, we are well-positioned to accelerate the transition to regenerative, resource-efficient agriculture.”
Ben Stel te
lls, "S&dB’s seed embedding technology offers great potential for growers. I’m impressed by the team’s progress and grateful for the trust to help lead S&dB forward. My focus will be on building a solid foundation for growth and delivering value to the market together with our partners."
