Programmes

NLWorks supports a private-public partnership that aims to establish a controlled environment ag-tech ecosystem in Kentucky (US) using Dutch knowledge, products and services. The program will provide substantial job growth in this sector in both countries and provide Dutch solutions to local and global challenges on food insecurity.

With a growing population and an increasingly large middle class, food security for the future is a challenge in China. With a vertically integrated business model for Sino Dutch Agri-Parks, Dutch businesses are using their knowledge by working with Chinese investors and retail partners to improve the yield and quality levels of greenhouse production in China.

The Mekong River is Indochina’s main waterway. It flows from the Tibetan plateau in China and empties into the South China Sea. The water is used for agriculture and fishing, industry, and energy. No measures have been taken yet to reduce the effect on the environment of these multiple uses, bringing increased environmental costs. The river supplies more than 60 million people, including the people of Vietnam. There is a growing demand for a (national) sustainably-cultivated healthy and safe food supply for the growing Vietnamese population.

Many people often have a nostalgic perception of orchards. Rows of fruit trees where you can pick your own fruit and the remaining is harvested by the farmer. Healthy and organic fruit at your fingertips. Nowadays modern fruit growers are professional businesspeople grappling with numerous challenges in cultivating and harvesting their crops. Leveraging a combination of existing and emerging smart technologies from both of our ecosystems can help address these challenges.

The world’s population is growing at an alarming rate. As a result, providing each and 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.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck in February 2023, swift action was taken. The aftermath prompted two pivotal NLWorks missions to the profoundly affected Hatay province. Within Hatay, the city of Antakiya (formerly home to 700,000 residents) and Samandag (with a previous population of 130,000) faced the daunting task of near-complete reconstruction.

On the banks of the Ganges River in India, Dutch and Indian businesses, knowledge institutions and government agencies are working together to generate electricity, gas, clean water and local jobs. Under the Waste to Wealth program, Dutch knowledge and expertise is contributed towards a significant improvement in the quality of life among local people.

Quality, readily accessible health care is becoming an ever greater priority to governments the world over. The Kenyan government wants every Kenyan citizen to have access to affordable health care by 2030.

The Sustainable Pig Farming program aims to create better living conditions for people as well as animals in and around pig farms in China. By building a demonstration, test and training farm, a consortium of 13 Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions will demonstrate how Chinese pig farms can be run in an innovative, sustainable and animal-friendly way. The consortium hopes that this farm and the associated knowledge, training as well as information program will inspire Chinese businesses, government agencies and knowledge institutions to collaborate as well as help scale up this type of pig farm.

Reduce CO2 emissions or improve air quality through circularity. This ambition is a priority for both countries. Biomass India is a program for public-private initiatives of both Dutch and Indian businesses, NGOs as well as government agencies to develop an integrated concept for the processing of rice straw into bio-based products.

The Climate Smart Coffee Consortium aims to reduce climate change, increase climate resilience, boost biodiversity and enhance the income of coffee farmers via Climate Smart Coffee Plantations in Kerala, India. The plantations combine circular (agro) forests, food processing and future-proof energy systems, creating carbon-neutral solutions for agriculture.

The Curaçao Sustainable Economy program aims to create a more sustainable economy in Curacao by focusing on six central themes: sustainable energy, mobility, education, employment opportunities, environmental protection and export. A consortium works together to research and determine which chains will have the optimal impact for the environment, the economy, society and trade.

A majority of the population in East Africa still uses traditional fuels like charcoal and wood for household cooking. This causes severe health issues and gender inequalities. It also harms the environment and contributes negatively to climate change. On a global level, 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution. Rwanda and neighboring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi, now aim to reduce the use of traditional cooking fuels and focus on clean cooking alternatives.

Bulgaria is a country with a rich history in the production and export of vegetables and fruits. Its temperate climate and rich soils provide favorable conditions for fruit and vegetable production. However, nowadays when it comes to fruit and vegetables it is a net importer and there is a strong need for its own production and facilities.

Since February 2022, Ukraine has been in distress because of the war with Russia. With this ongoing war, the country is unsafe for its people. Several countries in Europe have taken in Ukrainian refugees, including the Netherlands. We aim to support Ukraine in several possible ways, including with military aid and reconstruction, as well as in the area of medical aid by providing medicines and relief supplies.

On the basis of business and personal reasons, the lead partner in the consortium has decided to cease their efforts to come to a solid business case. The rest of the consortium has too little economical and technical perspective to continue. For that reason, the initiative has been taken out of the NLWorks portfolio. 

After a successful pilot, NLWorks has evaluated on behalf of the full consortium. It was concluded that the pilot was not scalable in its original set-up, mainly as a result of too high costs.  Based on the lessons learned from the pilot, Colombian parties can continue the initiative without bilateral collaboration. The Dutch content has no significant value-add at the moment which has led us to the conclusion that the concept development phase can be concluded successfully and at the same time, the initiative will not continue to the program development phase within the NLWorks portfolio. 

On the basis of business and personal reasons, the lead partner in the consortium has decided to cease their efforts to come to a solid business case. The rest of the consortium has too little economical and technical perspective to continue. For that reason, the initiative has been taken out of the NLWorks portfolio.  As part of discussions on the government-to-government level, possibilities are explored for sand mining on at long distance from the coastline. This is still in a very early phase. Should an initiative with a viable business case emerge from this, NLWorks will get involved if needed.