Originally from South Africa, where he completed his bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering, Jaco started his career in the bulk food ingredients industry. Jaco completed his MSc in Biochemical Engineering at the Technical University of Bratislava. After a year in the sugar industry, he moved to the Netherlands, working on the valorization of potato molasses as a fermentation substrate, and subsequently in the production of gluconic acid and -salts. Thereafter he moved to the pharmaceutical industry and spent several years in roles in R&D, production and Engineering, before embarking into the field of cultured meat in 2021.

Jaco oversees the CAS service offering, maintains contact with customers and manages the overall operations.

During his free time, Jaco enjoys hiking in the Limburg countryside, running, cycling and all-weather barbecues! Fun fact: Antarctica is the only continent where Jaco has not set foot, and neither does he intend to do so - he is a summer-weather person!