4 minute read
Horticulture
AN ECO-SYSTEM APPROACH FOR FOOD PRODUCTION
Worldwide, there is an increasing demand for selfsufficiency in the production of high-quality, healthy, fresh, and affordable food. Governments worldwide, and specifically in the Gulf region have launched initiatives to focus on ensuring food security through various means, and are doing great efforts to become more selfsufficient. Partly because of the sustainable development goals and high levels of food waste.
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Holistic solutions from the Netherlands for producing food locally in a region with challenging climate conditions, involving water-energy-food simultaneously, can be of great use for further ensuring food security in countries worldwide. We in the Netherlands learned how to deal with extreme weather conditions, as well. As we are partially located below sea level, we had to learn how to master the threat of water and actually make use of it. The Netherlands has a 150-year history in breeding, producing, and selling food by working closely together with others and for others. This resulted in a pioneers position in developing innovative solutions for smart agriculture techniques that ensure that crops can be grown year-round in a sustainable way.
We’d like to combine our horticultural knowledge and experience with the specific challenges in your countries in a long-term partnership. Knowledge exchange on sustainable food production is not only regional but of global importance to reduce the environmental impact caused by food production. Together, we have everything in place to achieve your foodsufficiency goals.
Key message 1: How the Dutch do it?
It requires a whole new ecosystem to substantially increase the supply of safe, nutritious and tasty food and reduce the loss of food. We established an ecosystem with an integrated approach. Important parts of the
ecosystem are breeding and propagation, growing young plants, growing vegetables and flowers, packaging and logistics, trade, retail and consumer marketing. Our Universities are specialized in technology and agriculture and gained unique knowledge about plants and the interaction with technology. Our continuous collaboration between government, business and applied science institutions, the triple helix, is the key to success. By working together and learning from each other, we as a small country are now leading in the field of sustainable food production.
Key message 2: Consumer needs at the center
Consumers are becoming more conscious of sustainability. They prefer fresh, healthy, and affordable food, sustainably produced. We are working on the shortest possible route from fork-to-farm, with the consumer's needs at the center. This is only possible if more food is produced locally. Local cultivation provides; • Fresh products • Less food lost in the chain • Control over the supply and the cultivation method • A minimal use of water and fertilizers, and • Moreover, there will be sustainable employment with clean and good working conditions.
We are dedicated to creating a long-term partnership to help you to achieve this.
Key message 3: Help achieve sustainability goals
Technological developments in horticulture are moving fast, especially in the field of controlled cultivation. From mid-tech and high-tech greenhouses to fully controlled cultivation systems, using artificial intelligence or robotics. These technological developments allow us to achieve our sustainability goals, such as water and energy savings and the use of plant breeding and natural crop protection. We are eager to share our knowledge and innovative integrated technologies, with you to help achieve: efficient production, and a reduction of food waste, efficient use of scarce resources like land and water, and efficient use of alternative energy resources. • Efficient production: For comparison; in the Netherlands we grow up to 100 kg tomatoes per crop year per square meter in a controlled environment, where only 15 kg per square meter are harvested in open fields in other parts of the world.
• Efficient use of scarce
resources: On a surface area of about a soccer field, you can grow enough vegetables in a tall building for 100,000 people who each eat 250 grams of vegetables every day. (Source: Leo Marcelis, Professor of Horticulture WUR). Moreover, because of the closed system no pesticides are needed and energy is efficiently used. • Efficient water use: in a closed high-tech cultivation system, up to 95% water can be saved. We do this by collecting and reusing the water. In this way, nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) are retained without undesirable leakage into ground and surface water.
Dutch horticultural companies have already implemented price-winning technological solutions aimed at growing in a hot and humid climate. These well-tested solutions combined with longterm cultivation support and guidance can provide a yearround production of fresh and healthy food, even in the middle of the desert.
Let’s cooperate in achieving a sustainable, food-secure future
We, the Dutch horticultural cluster, would like to help you become more self-sufficient. You can rely on us for an integral, innovative, and sustainable ecosystem. We do this with a group of driven leaders from the industry. But also with the best universities and knowledge centers. Naturally supported by our government. We will gladly put you in touch with the right contacts within our powerful triangle. Let’s bind forces, share experiences, and cooperate in achieving a sustainable, foodsecure future!
