The world’s population is growing at an alarming rate. As a result, providing each every individual with a supply of safe, healthy, sustainable food is becoming an ever-greater challenge. It is a particular challenge to do so while respecting and maintaining our environment.
Smart technological innovations can help provide a solution to this problem. These innovations help us to capitalize more effectively and more quickly on changes in the food chain.
Ambitions of the Netherlands and California/Washington State
If smart new technologies are to be developed in the best possible way, international collaboration and innovation is crucial. By working together, we gain access to new markets, we create new export opportunities and we strengthen our trading position, which makes for greater social and economic impact. Combining the strengths of the Netherlands and California, the largest food producers in the world, accelerates the technological development process.
Need for action
There is a need to overhaul the existing food system in the US and the Netherlands. In both countries, for example, there is a major need for a sustainable and healthy food farming system.
The partnership between the US and the Netherlands was launched in 2015. Because both countries encountered the same challenges in this field. The signing of an LOI by former Minister of Agriculture Martijn van Dam signalled the start of the partnership. This ‘letter of intent’ set out the initial principles on which the partnership was based.
The program was discussed again during the GES in 2019. Public and private partners from both countries refined as well as reiterated the LOI on behalf of Carola Schouten, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture.
Social and economic opportunities
The aim of the impact program is to speed up the process of innovation collaboration, business development and investments in AgriFoodTech applications. By combining the strengths of both our networks in terms of public and private players as well as knowledge institutions, we can improve food and health as well as develop sustainable solutions for the food system of the future.
The long-term partnership currently being developed by the Netherlands and California is based on 5 sub-themes:
- Cultivation in a controlled environment;
- Robotisation and automation in fruit farming;
- Digital and precision agriculture;
- Livestock farming and dairy innovation;
- Food waste.
Mission for the Netherlands
The aim is to develop a long-term public-private AgriFoodTech program with a broad support base. The program will be implemented via an integrated, comprehensive approach to innovation collaboration and business development (trade and investments). FME and NLWorks collaborate to translate this private approach into concrete projects.
A global approach
By developing structured collaboration projects between our 2 countries, we increase market access for consortia from both the Netherlands and California/Washington State. Together, we also develop solutions that have the potential to provide the growing population with healthy food, while at the same time respecting our planet.
Partnership developer
Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
