climate Tag

February 18, 2026 In Blog

Greg’s Dutch Climate Startups

Greg’s Dutch Climate Startups: Lab-Grown Beef & Lab-Grown Leather

18 February, 2026

In January I spoke at the HollandBio event, and I was inspired by this new Dutch startup called Qorium that makes lab-grown leather. Why is this such a potential game changer? Fighting Deforestation.

The CEO Michael Newton explained how leather is a multi-billion dollar industry, but the process of separating the cow hide from the cow is one of the grossest things on earth. “Making leather is polluting, wasteful and controversial.” And you can try fake leather, but it’s mostly plastic-based.
The audio technician backstage turned to me and said “It’s true! I work with leather in my other job, and pleather sucks.”
The CEO: “as wasteful as the process is, leather is – by volume – a very valuable part of a cow.” And the audio guy said, “THAT’s why – even though people eat less red meat – the price of leather drives up the demand.”

So I looked it up: A cow’s hide is only worth 5% of a slaughtered steer’s value. Although – profit margins in the beef cattle industry hover around 5%. Sounds to me like potential for DISRUPTION!
Less leather, less cattle expansion, less deforestation.

MAKING REAL LEATHER WITHOUT THE COW?

Yes. Step 1 does involve biopsy cells from a donor cow. Then Step 2 is when they replicate the cells in the lab – to do what they do best – make collagen. And in Step 3 they stimulate the collagen cells to grow as they normally would inside the cow – because SCIENCE.
So if you really want to stop deforestation to grow cattle – try Lab-grown Leather. WATCH:

Next: Beef without the cow: MosaMeat.

A few years ago, I spoke for a Dutch startup making lab-grown beef. Or as they like to call it: “cultured” beef.
Because I guess “lab grown” makes you think of Frankenstein, but cultured makes you think of Young Frankenstein, in a tuxedo.

They biopsy “a sesame seed sized sample of cells,” and they let them grow in the lab just like they would grow in nature. Apparently, one sample from one cow can grow enough protein cells too make 80,000 burgers.

Stay tuned next time for Dutch startups in lab-grown fish, lab-grown pork, and lab-grown fruit.

…But I don’t know when the next time will be, because two of those companies went bankrupt, and the third one doesn’t exist just yet.

Lab-grown Leather:
https://www.qorium.com/

Lab-Grown “Cultured” Beef:
mosameat.com/

For more of Greg’s Climate Good News:
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/shapiros-orange-going-green/

January 6, 2026 In Blog

Pep & Greg Political PubQuiz

Pep & Greg Political PubQuiz at Boom Chicago Monday, Monthly

6 January, 2026

Critics love our new political pub quiz show at Boom Chicago!
“Tremendous work. Really tremendous” – ArtsTalk Magazine

From boomchicago.nl:

“For 25 years, Boom founder Pep Rosenfeld (Emmy-nominated SNL writer) and Greg Shapiro (the famous ‘Netherlands Second’ Trump video) have been mixing comedy and current events. A master class in political comedy!

Now they’re back at Boom Chicago to skewer the latest from American and Dutch news in their newest edition: a comedy pub quiz.

★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Shapiro knows his stuff… [and] has a great Donald Trump impersonation’ — Joris Henquet, De Volkskrant

‘Sharp satire and world-class improvisation’ — De Volkskrant

‘★ ★ ★ ★ ★! Greg and Pep have an incredible charisma and are very funny….’ — D Robinson, TripAdvisor

WHAT TO EXPECT

Comedy show meets pub quiz meets a fun evening with friends – on a Monday night!
US news, Dutch news, culture news, silly news
Bring a team of 2-4

More at BOOM CHICAGO.nl
https://boomchicago.nl/pep-and-greg-politically-incorrect/

From the review in ARTS TALK MAGAZINE

Trivia, Trump, and Tremendous Timing (excerpt by Jay Mansilla, 4^th November 2025)

Political comedy is as hard as it can be good. …The premise of the show promised a mix of stand-up and a pub quiz, a sharp idea teetering on the edge of gimmickry.

The room buzzed with the familiar chaos of trivia night. Onto the stage strode Pep Rosenfeld and Greg Shapiro, stalwarts of Amsterdam’s comedy scene. …Together they created the volatile charm of two mischievous uncles, the kind who could start a dinner-table mutiny.

Their rhythm was elegantly elastic … the performance glowed.

…Greg’s Trump impression worked as collective release; the audience could finally laugh at the new president without bracing for the fallout of his next decree.
…Pep and Greg have the kind of chemistry and intellect that make risk feel right.

…Pep and Greg took the clamour of the present and, under the stage lights, they made an audience breathe again. The next day we’d return to the blizzard, but somehow steadier. Tremendous work. Really tremendous.

Read the full review:

https://artstalkmagazine.substack.com/p/pep-and-greg-politically-incorrect

November 13, 2025 In Blog

Shapiro’s Dutch Climate GoodNews

13 November, 2025

Every year the Netherlands – the tiny NL! – puts 300 million kg textiles into the recycling bins. Only 15% is actually recycled… Not for long? Here are 3 Dutch startups changing the game.

Saxcell

Saxcell in the Dutch town of Enschede focuses on cotton. They take cotton clothing, dissolve it into a pulp, and then they create a replica of virgin cotton to make industrial scale fabrics. For virgin cotton, every kilogram requires an average of 6000 liters of water to become fabric. Saxcell’s cotton recycling process takes only 10 liters.

[So far so good, BUT what about synthetic fibers?]

BrightFiber

Amsterdam’s BrightFiber Textiles focuses on blends, such as cotton / polyester or acrylic.

In April 2025, BrightFiber brought a new facility online in the Amsterdam harbor – with 3 machines.
1 – a cleaner that removes zippers, buttons, labels.

2 – their smart sorter machine that separates materials.

3 – is the key: the fiberizing machine. The process produces high-quality fibers ready for the spinning mill. Currently, the machines can process 2.5 millon kg of textiles per year. Long way to get to 300million.

But they may have help soon, from:

BioFashionTech

This Rotterdam startup enables bacteria to do what humans and machines can’t. First, the textiles are ground into granules. Then, they use a patented fermentation technology, in where bacteria separate the plastic fibers from the natural ones. The separated plastic can be reused as new plastic or polyester yarn. And the organic material then becomes bioplastic or biofuel.

CEO and founder Fabiola Polli imagines a future where major fashion brands and retailers have their own in-house recycling plant.
The future could also hold her biotech solution being used for waste streams of plastic and paper food packaging.

(Tune in for tomorrow’s episode where fossil fuel companies buy up all 3 startups and shut them down.)

😉
…
This episode is largely based on reporting from Change.inc. Video includes images from Saxcell, BrightFiberTextiles and BioFashionTech.

More CGN Climate Good News? Here are 3 Dutch Agri-Business Game-Changers:
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/shapiros-orange-going-green/

September 8, 2025 In Blog

Shapiro’s Orange Going Green

Greg Shapiro Presents: ‘ORANGE GOING GREEN’ Climate Good News from the Netherlands

8 September, 2024

Want a quick mental health boost? I’ve got a secret: Not all climate news is bad. I’ve been collecting all kinds of examples of CGN: Climate Good News. And now there are so many… Big Oil can’t possibly kill ALL of them, right?

And these are ONLY examples from the Netherlands. It’s time for: ORANGE GOING GREEN.

DUTCH STARTUP ‘COWMANAGER’ USES EAR SENSORS AND AI TO HELP REDUCE ANTIBIOTICS AND HORMONES IN COW MILK

I did a keynote speech at Cowmanager last week, and I was inspired. This Dutch startup makes sensors for cows’ ears that help predict fertility, illness, etc. THIS MEANS that if you can predict a cow’s fertility, you don’t need as many hormones. AND if you can predict a cow getting sick, you don’t need as many antibiotics in cow milk. Finally, a health solution where Bernie Sanders would approve – and RFK jr.

https://www.cowmanager.com/

MORE Dutch Green agribusiness news?

‘NORTH SEA FARMERS’ FIRST-EVER HARVEST FROM SEAWEED FARM BETWEEN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES.

No, it’s not enough that the Netherlands runs its entire rail network with offshore wind energy. Now, the space between the wind turbines is being used to cultivate the amazingly nutritious seaweed, thanks to “North Sea Farmers.” See? Amazon isn’t all bad.
https://www.northseafarmers.org/news/first-ever-harvest-at-pioneering-north-sea-seaweed-farm-funded-by-amazons-right-now-climate-fund

Pretty soon this Dutch startup might be contributing to Samuel L. Jackson’s Vattenfall-brand seaweed snacks.

“Mother F***ing Windfarms.” AND finally,

DUTCH VERIDI TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDES SOIL ANALYSIS GIVING MAJOR HARVEST BOOST FOR FARMERS WORLDWIDE

Do you know how many times the experts have predicted mass starvation due to human overpopulation? And yet somehow we humans keep getting more efficient at growing food. Thanks to wonky Dutch tech nerds like Delft startup Veridi Technologies. Farmers thrive on having quality soil analysis, but it’s usually terribly expensive. Until now. These Dutchies offer automated microscopy and AI – as well as training – for farmers to use their technique all over the world. Climate scarcity, make room for Food Security.
https://www.change.inc/advies-en-dienstverlening/nederlandse-start-up-maakt-bodemonderzoek-sneller-goedkoper-nauwkeuriger-en-toegankelijker-41604

I’ve been working on a solo comedy show called GREG SHAPIRO SAVES THE CLIMATE, with 60 minutes of Dutch Climate Good News. Coming soon to a theater near you…

See Greg Shapiro’s Upcoming Comedy Shows:
https://gregshapiro.nl/greg-shapiro-upcoming-comedy-shows/

July 20, 2024 In Blog

Shapiro Hosts TUDelft Event

Shapiro Hosts TUDelft Event – 10 years of TU Delft Sports Engineering Institute

On days like these, I love my job.

Just as the Netherlands Olympic team is getting ready for Paris 2024, they celebrated 10 years of help from the TU Delft Sports Engineering Institute. I was brought in to host the 10 year event.

https://www.aanmelder.nl/sportinnovation/new-page

What is Sports Engineering?

When milliseconds make the difference between Silver and Gold, the Sports Engineering Institute uses high tech innovations to give the Netherlands the advantage. Onstage, I interviewed the head of the TU Delft program to discuss the new prototype Olympic racing bike (warning – brakes not included). (Professor Tim van der Hagen – rector magnificus at TU Delft)

I interviewed the head of the NOC Dutch Olympic Committee about the Dutch love of speed skating. When people say “the Dutch have skating down to a science,” it’s Delft they’re talking about. (Marc van den Tweel – general director at NOC*NSF)

I interviewed the head of the head of the Nationaal Klimaat Platform about how sports innovation helps sustainability. The Netherlands is also known for Olympic sailing – 100% wind power. But the officials’ boats are now being powered by hydrogen fuel cells developed at TU Delft. You may have heard how Paris 2024 wants to be the Greenest Olympics ever. You can thank the Dutchies. (Kees Vendrik – Chairman of Nationaal Klimaat Platform – will dive into the relevance of sports innovation for society.)

Sports Engineering and Baseball

After the plenary session, there was a gallery of sports exhibits, from skating to tennis – even darts. (see Michael van Gerwen, former Dutch World Champion)

My personal favorite sport is baseball. That’s how I grew up. So when I saw the exhibit for baseball pitchers, I had to try it myself.

There’s more and more pressure on young baseball pictures to throw with higher and higher velocity. The result is that many young pitchers blow out their arms and need surgery. But Delft SEI asks, “what if we use sensors to help young arms avoid injury?”

So I gave it a try.. I reached a top speed of 75 miles per hour. If you ever need a quasi-celebrity to throw out your first pitch, I’m available.

TU Delft Pitching

Thank you to event organizers JMT Management and to Karsten Stouten for the photos – and video.

And thank you to Ramona and the SEI team for putting glitter tape on my cue cards (blecch)…

…but then handing out top quality schwag: a TU Delft SEI t-shirt. Sports Engineering for Life!

For more Greg Shapiro Corporate Events, click here:
https://gregshapiro.nl/greg-shapiro-corporate-events/

April 3, 2024 In Blog

Shapiro Hosts Government Event NL

Shapiro Hosts Government Event for Netherlands Innovation Network

3 April, 2024

What an inspirational event for the NIN Netherlands Innovation Network’s 70th Anniversary (Oct. 2023)! I was honored to be host for the entire day.

The NIN is an outreach program to create public-private partnerships across borders – and make history. In 70 years of international networking, they can claim credit for the creation of CD’s, WiFi, water engineering, and a whole exposition floor full of more examples.

I started by singing happy birthday for the current staff of the NIN – which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.

The Future is Bright

Next, we got a preview of the future. AI and Quantum computing. Agritech and Health / Life Sciences. But for me most interesting was Aviation and the race between SAF (Sustainable / Synthetic Aviation Fuel) and Alternate Power Trains (e-Jets). The good news is: pretty soon we won’t have to feel so bad about flying anymore.

I’ve hosted so many events where the theme is efficiency / downsizing. This was one event where the boss was telling the staff: “get more people to claim more of these subsidies!”

Celebrating 70 Years

Next we heard some Best-of stories from 70 years of Innovation Attaches from around the globe.

And the Minister was there – at the end. I was introduced to Micky Adriaansens.

And I introduced her to the main stage.

At the very end, organizer George van der Raaij was exhausted. But…

After the event, one of the Innovation Attaches insisted on a group photo WITH the minister.

I enticed the organizers to rally for ONE more group photo. Luckily, photographer Robin Utrecht was on board.

And there she is. Adriaansens still is the ‘demissionaire’ minister. And since our next minister will likely be from a new coalition of science-denying amateurs, the longer she stays on the better.

Long live the NIN! (and please make your theme song Trent Reznor & Nine Inch Nails)
https://netherlandsinnovation.nl/

For more Greg Shapiro Corporate Events, click here

Corporate Events

November 29, 2023 In Blog

Dutch Election Comedy Show Reviewed

Review ‘PEP & GREG POLITICALLY INCORRECT’ – a Dutch Election Comedy Show, by ARTS TALK MAGAZINE

24 November, 2023

Thank you to ArtsTalk Magazine for coming to review our Dutch election comedy show 2023! Friday, 24 November. The election results were just 36 hours old, and we rewrote half the show: “Pep & I are 99% shocked the Netherlands voted for Geert Wilders… And we’re 1% delighted. For every time back in 2016 when Dutch people told us ‘You Americans are so stupid to vote for a right-wing, anti-immigrant populist with strange blond hair.’ Well? Now how does it feel!?”

So much new material, and yes the emotions were raw. Did the reviewer notice? Oh yes. Rose Fawbert Mills noted that the show could have been tighter. But let’s focus on her positive quotes:

“a satirical night of comedy reviewing the American and Dutch political systems was very appealing and not to be missed.”

“Greg’s Trump impersonation …very, very good.”

Multi-Media

“the use of visuals – photos, memes, video clips – was engaging and entertaining. It gave the show a very ‘current’ feel.”

“the overall the show was good. laughed out loud.”

‘Pep & Greg Politically Incorrect’ is our way of saying we think politics are being done incorrectly. We use the show to celebrate the worst of Dutch & US politics. In the US, President Biden is actually a great politician – but a terrible candidate. And in the Netherlands, there are so many political parties it’s almost like we could start our own party based on the people in the audience that night. SO that’s what we do. And – when Joe Biden gets kicked out as leader of the Democrat Party in the US – why not have him lead our new Dutch party?

Pep & Greg will be back for more dates at Boom Chicago. Potentially in December. And definitely in 2024.

Read the whole review here:
https://artstalkmagazine.nl/pep-greg-are-back-and-politically-incorrect-at-boom-chicago-in-amsterdam/

(Technician Emil adjusts the “Pep Bot”)

‘Pep & Greg Politically Incorrect’ the show
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/pep-greg-politically-incorrect/

November 7, 2023 In Blog

Pep & Greg Politically Incorrect

Pep & Greg Politically Incorrect!

7 nov, 2023

Pep & Greg are back! This time we’re comparing the Worst of the 2023 Dutch election to the Worst of US election 2024.

The Netherlands: “We sent angry farmers with pitchforks to protest in the Hague…”

USA: “Hold my beer! (… storms Capitol on January 6.)”

To us, “Politically Incorrect” means politics being done incorrectly. USA, you have a 2-party system, which is very binary – almost bi-polar. And if the USA is bi-polar, then the Netherlands has multiple personality disorder.

I’ve been writing comedy with Pep Rosenfeld since we were in high school. (In 1985, we predicted Rupert Murdoch would take over TV stations and make America dumber.) We’ve written & performed political standup specials since 2001, including Trump Up the Volume – the show we were only supposed to perform in 2016.
Along the way, critics say:

‘Superior. Hilarious satire’ – Theaterkrant.nl

‘Greg is a scarily real fake Trump’ – Het Parool

From the Boom Chicago website:

Boom founder Pep Rosenfeld (Emmy nominated SNL writer) and Greg Shapiro (the famous ‘Netherlands Second’ Trump video) are back at Boom Chicago with their famous mix of comedy and current events.

They will skewer the latest from American and Dutch society. Will America elect a president in prison?

Will the cranky farmers take over the Netherlands?

Like usual, Pep and Greg will tackle it all and hold nothing back!

In a world filled with fake news, AI, conspiracy theories, guns, race issues, climate change, Mark Rutte retiring and Joe Biden not, Pep and Greg will make you laugh!

Pep and Greg Politically Incorrect is a new Boom Chicago show that is not just for those who follow America (though they will love it).

With standup comedy, improvisation and sharp commentary, the duo from Trump Up the Volume have created a new, smart show for anyone who likes to laugh.

PRAISE for Pep & Greg’s previous Boom Chicago shows:

‘Sharp satire and world class improvisation’ – De Volkskrant

‘Five stars! Greg and Pep have an incredible charisma and are very funny….’ — D Robbinson, Trip Advisor

‘Jokes were well-sculpted and wide-ranging. Engaging with the audience, they were quick, provocative and pugnacious.’ – ArtsTalkMagazine.nl

TICKETS: CLICK HERE
https://boomchicago.nl/pep-and-greg-politically-incorrect/

More Greg reviews? Click here:
https://gregshapiro.nl/media/theater-reviews-for-greg-shapiros-latest-shows/

October 12, 2023 In Blog

Shapiro Premieres ‘ClimateGoodNews’ Show

Greg Shapiro Premieres His ‘ClimateGoodNews’ Show

12 October, 2023

The premiere was a success!

‘GREG SHAPIRO SAVES THE CLIMATE: 60 Minutes of Climate Good News’ at De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam. Next up come shows in Utrecht, Haarlem, Nijmegen & more…

Based on a True Story

My day job involves speaking and hosting at corporate events – increasingly for Dutch green startups and leaders in sustainability. Inspiring stuff, actually. So I thought: “why not make a show about it? With d**k jokes.”

So far I’ve got funny stories and inspiration to share about events for:

Boskalis Offshore Wind Energy
HZI Waste-to-Energy Power Plants
The European Sleeper Overnight Train (sustainable alternative to short-haul flights)
Kipster Sustainable Chicken Farm
Mosa Meat Lab-grown hamburger
NRC “How Green Are We” Survey
TU Delft Energy Transition event
TU Eindhoven Pitch Coaching for Green Startups
WUR Wageningen Food X – the food of the future
Koppert Agriculture – the Future of Farming

And I was even hired by a company called New Motion to standardize EV charging stations in Europe. But then I was fired – because apparently the startup had been bought out by Shell Oil, and Shell “wanted to move in a different direction.” …specifically BACKWARDS.

The show is so satisfying to do!

GREG SHAPIRO SAVES THE CLIMATE: 60 MINUTES OF CLIMATE GOOD NEWS
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/greg-shapiro-saves-the-climate/

The Reviews

“Important and Inspiring.”

“Climate news stories making you realise it’s not all bad. Amusing and uplifting.”

“Climate theme is great. Also the ‘look out for greenwashing’ angle. Appeals to the sceptic in me.”

The opening was part of the Nutty Anita’s Solo Nights, at De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam. And it was a nicely full house. Thanks to Amsterdam’s ‘Maestro of the underground’ Ken Parsons for producing. And thanks to Amsterdam’s Maeva Dolle for being the opening act. Her solo hour is well underway.

FOR MORE GREG SHAPIRO GREEN-THEMED CORPORATE EVENTS:

Shapiro Hosts Sustainable Train Launch

WATCH: Greg’s YouTube Series ‘Climate Good News’

September 18, 2023 In Blog

Shapiro Hosts Kipster Event

18 sept., 2023
Hooray! I hosted another green event, this time for a sustainable chicken farm called Kipster.
Kipster (not Kipsta) started with 2 Dutch chicken farms, creating the world’s first carbon neutral eggs. Now this Dutch business is expanding into the US, and to host their launch event, they called me: The American Netherlander. The event took place in North Manchester, Indiana (23 Aug). And Queen Maxima even taped a video message.

To prepare, I met with one of the founders Olivier Wegloop, who is a vegan and animal rights activist. Here he is in the blue shirt behind me (gawd it was hot in that tent…)

Olivier believes in the writings of animal rights activists like Temple Grandin, who said: “nature is cruel, but we don’t have to be. If we are raising animals to be eaten, at least we can treat them with some respect.“ (and then we got to interview Grandin… see below) Since chickens are traditionally forest animals, Kipster has created – not only a cage-free environment, but – a fun forest.

As you can see, they still lay plenty of eggs.

Another Kipster founder is Ruud Zanders, who explained the main reason their chickens are carbon neutral: they feed the chickens food waste.

Every year A) humanity grows enough food to feed 4 billion people – and then we give it to livestock, B) of all the food we produce, we waste about 33%. Kipster simply asks: “Why not feed the chickens food waste?” The motto of Kipster is “Crops should be about Food not Feed.” This ground-breaking strategy is actually thousands of years old. But …

KIPSTER’S REVOLUTIONARY TWIST

The revolutionary part of Kipster is: Roosters for Meat.

Since male chickens don’t lay eggs – and they’re considered too gamey to eat – the normal practice on chicken farms is to kill baby male chicks they day they hatch. (The waste product is hopefully repurposed into things like pet food.) But Kipster asks “what if we let the roosters grow to maturity (and then we eat them)? How gamey are they really?”

To end the event, Kipster served up the first-ever rooster meatballs. I met with Managing Director Sandra Vijn to try one. And I thought it the texture was perfect. The tray of ‘Boom Boom’ rooster balls was not finished at closing time, and I was afraid it might become food waste… but I suppose the rooster meat was fed to the hens. What better way to say ‘Death to the Patriarchy’ -?

Thanks to Olivier Wegloop for putting this event together. He was the one who arranged an interview with Dr Temple Grandin – via Livestream. Dr. Grandin is famously autistic, and she demanded to see all the questions in advance. Then – as soon as Olivier asked his first question – she just went on a rant about sustainable farming and animal behavior and didn’t stop. She’s a legend!

Thank you to Olivier & Sandra for inviting me. Thank you to the Dutch Consulate of Chicago for putting us in touch (years ago). And thank you to Markey’s Event Services who created the backbone for an extremely professional show – including full build and build-down in extreme heat. And they made it look easy.

For more about Kipster in English:
https://www.kipster.farm/

More Green-themed events hosted by Greg Shapiro:
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/shapiro-hosts-sustainable-train-launch/

Greg’s new Green standup special GREG SHAPIRO SAVES THE CLIMATE
https://gregshapiro.nl/blog/greg-shapiro-saves-the-climate/