Opportunities to grow at Bunge

Rens Brouwer is a Junior Application Engineer at Bunge. He has been working at the company for a year and a half now, where he also completed an internship. Recently, he attended the Young IFFI Event in Utrecht and he shared his knowledge with students from WUR during a company visit. “They had questions about practical issues, like how to arrange an internship,” says Rens.

Bunge is a supplier of vegetable oils and fats for the food industry. “Besides oils and fats, we also work with lecithines, a type of emulsifier. I mainly focus on the latter. I look at the role of lecithines in the final product. An emulsifier can extend a product’s shelf life. In the lab, I examine what adding an emulsifier does to the product, and I advise clients about this effect and how to use this ingredient.”

After his studies, Rens was certain he wanted a job in the food industry. So when he had the opportunity to work at Bunge after his internship, he didn’t say no. “I really enjoy it here. I’m part of a great team, with people of various ages. Additionally, I have every opportunity to grow here. I liked that Bunge had a plan for me from the start, and I was quickly given a lot of responsibility.”

He doesn’t have a specific career path mapped out yet but considers what aspects of his role he does and doesn’t enjoy. “I really like the customer interaction; it gives me energy. Perhaps I’d like to expand that aspect in the future.” He is also interested in collaborating with a startup or having a role within a startup. “Innovation fascinates me.”

He also enjoyed the Young IFFI Event last September. “It was great to see so many young people working in the same industry, dealing with the same topics. I hadn’t realized that before.” The Young IFFI Event also provided networking opportunities. Rens is considering a as a board member of Young IFFI.

For Young IFFI is he’s willing to show what working as a young professional in the ingredient industry means. Through a photo diary, he’ll show what a typical workweek looks like for him. Stay tuned!

Rens Brouwer
Junior Application Engineer at Bunge