Made in Holland: Agrifood

24 Pages·2014·2.63 MB·English

made in holland
-
agri food
Leading in Innovation • Health and Sustainability • Integral Chain Approach
Solutions for Global Issues • Strategic Alliances • Knowledge Hub
The Dutch Way
Photo: Ger Loeffen
Feelgood farming

The living space of these egg-laying hens is determined
by their daily routine. In the Rondeel stalls 30,000 laying
hens can shelter and forage and enjoy a dust bath as well
as eat, drink and roost. This farming method in roundel
stalls, based on a study by Wageningen University, is a
prime example of the transition to a sustainable future,
representing the perfect balance between corporate
social responsibility, animal welfare and a pleasant
working environment for the poultry farmer. The
fourth Rondeel stall is currently in the planning stages
and the eggs are finding their way to more and more
supermarkets and caterers. Visitors are welcome to visit
the stalls 365 days a year.
2 MADE IN HOLLAND
Welcome
The Netherlands is a small country that thinks big. Due to its fertile soil and smart solutions, it
is the second-largest exporter of agri-food products in the world, after the United States. Hard
effort and smart working practices have resulted in a workforce that has the highest added value
per FTE in Europe. Companies, knowledge institutes, and policymakers have joined forces in
order to create a well-equipped and highly effective knowledge infrastructure that meets the
requirements of today’s knowledge-intensive agri-food sector, enabling the sustainable and
efficient production of high quality, healthy and tasty foods. Dutch entrepreneurs and researchers
are eager to address and solve global challenges. In order to achieve this aim, they invest, for
example, in state-of-the-art-scientific solutions as well as developing practical solutions for the
agri-food sector. This publication offers you a glimpse into Holland’s innovative agri-food sector.
We would be delighted to welcome you and invite you to join forces with us!
made in holland agri-food

4 16
In the Spotlight Innovation
international leaders from farm to fork restaurant of the future
8 18
Facts and Figures Global Issues
Bits & bites Safer food for metropolitan areas
10 20
Interview Around the World
Quality food stimulus Potato-enhanced wine gums
12 22
Best Practices A Win-Win Situation
Energy and water from waste flows “if we say it’s safe, it is safe”
14 24
Into the Future Contact
Synergy between industry and academia meet the dutch

about this publication Made in Holland Agri-Food is published by Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl), on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spring 2014 editorial address
RVO.nl, Made in Holland, PO Box 93144, 2509 AC The Hague, The Netherlands, [email protected] editor-in-Chief Aimée van Lijf final editor Sonja Haasse editing Kris Kras Design, Rosali de
Hart, Werner Bossmann, Donald Macdonald Cover photo 123rf.com Contributors Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Secretariat Top Sector Agri-Food, RVO.nl Concept,
design and art direction Kris Kras Design, Utrecht Translation Concorde Group, Amstelveen.

Copyright Articles may only be reprinted or reproduced with acknowledgement of the source: Made in Holland / RVO.nl. No rights may be derived from the contents of this publication.

www.hollandtrade.com
Agri-Food 3
In the Spotlight
Photo: HH/Sabine Joosten
4 MADE IN HOLLAND
Photo: HH/Sybe Swart
international leaders from farm to fork
The Netherlands has a favourable climate and fertile soil types fries in the world. Its objective is to transform the humble
and, consequently, it boasts a flourishing agricultural sector. potato into a pre-processed convenience product and its
Its agri-food sector is a global leader in terms of innovation range of meal options is a response to increasing consumer
and volume. In absolute figures the Netherlands generates 7.5% demand for convenience products. Its products can be found
of global exports in agricultural and food products, surpassed in the frozen and chilled sections of most supermarkets. The
only by the US. This is an astounding performance for such a Dutch food processing industry includes a number of large
small country. The Dutch are also renowned for their turnkey multinationals: 8 out of 25 of the largest Dutch companies are
approach, which they export to trading partners abroad. food processing businesses. In addition, there is a remarkably
Aviko was founded in 1962 by a small group of potato farmers high number of successful medium-sized companies (with
and is now the second-largest potato processing business 200-500 employees) operating in the sector.
in Europe and one of the largest suppliers of chilled French
higher added value for those who need it
Traditionally, the Dutch have achieved maximum returns with vulnerable groups. However, so-called functional foodstuffs are
minimal resources. With such a small surface area it’s the only also essential for other population groups such as the elderly.
option. Nowadays, they no longer achieve growth by increasing Staying healthy and fit while growing old is a new challenge,
productivity or by working harder. They do so by continuing now that world citizens are living longer. Therefore, the
to work more intelligently and increasing the value of their Netherlands is making considerable investments in high-quality
products. In the agri-food sector the focus of this added value research to develop new, functional, agri-food products and
is on health, sustainability, taste and comfort. This allows to upgrade standard foodstuffs to high-value ones. But we are
the food produced by Danone Baby & Medical to make a real also focusing on salt reduction, raw materials flexibility, protein
difference to the lives of hospital-patients, babies and other innovations and improved packaging and storage technology.
Agri-Food 5
In the Spotlight
Photo: HH/George Burggraaff
6 MADE IN HOLLAND
Photo: HH/Arie Kievit
doing more with less
In 2050, there will be nine billion mouths to feed in the world. the vegetable processing sector into ingredients, natural
This is one of the greatest challenges of our time. How do colourings, juices and purees, thus adding value to them. Colour
we achieve a healthier population in a healthier world? extracts are obtained from pepper and beet residual products.
Vital resources such as water, soil and energy are becoming These types of natural colourings are used for example in
increasingly scarce. The Dutch sector is happy to accept the rocket-shaped Dutch ice-lollies. Colouring from peppers is a
efficiency mission and is investigating how to achieve more typical example of doing more with less. This type of innovative
with less. ‘Green’ and ‘growth’ can happily coexist in a biobased food production or processing offers many opportunities.
economy. So we can create a truly sustainable cycle in the In this way, the focus of the Netherlands is always on
world. One example of a company that encourages sustainable sustainability as a total concept, in which man, animals and the
developments is Provalor. The small business (with just seven environment are all part of the equation.
employees) focuses on transforming residual products from
making each and every link sustainable
There is a saying that goes “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth information about its veal including which feed the calves
doing well”. This vision is reflected in the Dutch desire to are given, and the measures the company takes in terms of
implement changes in every part of the chain. This is because animal welfare and compliance with hygiene regulations and
they are well aware that the chain is only as strong as its transportation. All these points are monitored by independent
weakest link. A holistic approach is the only way to make a bodies. By applying its own Safety Guard quality system the
sector truly sustainable, or to elevate it to a higher level. A VanDrie Group can provide guarantees for the entire chain, for
prime example is the veal produced by the VanDrie Group, example regarding the meat’s quality and origins.
which is a product that is in high demand internationally.
The Dutch family business provides every essential piece of
Agri-Food 7
Facts and Figures
Bits & bites
Dutch production efficiency is high.
In the Netherlands the added value
per hectare is up to five times higher
than the European average.
The Netherlands is the
second-largest
exporter of agri-food
products in the world,
surpassed only by
the US (which has
a surface area
296-times greater).
654,000,000 kg

of cheese exports, the 4th-largest worldwide.
Global top 40
4 Dutch companies are included in the global
top 40 food & beverage companies: Unilever,
Heineken, VION and Royal FrieslandCampina.
80%
More than 80% of exports
are destined for Europe,
primarily Germany and other
neighbouring countries.
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4,100
Bits & bites

supermarkets
serve around 17 million
Dutch inhabitants
Amsterdam is the largest
cocoa port in the world.
second-largest
1.5 million
dairy cows
occupy 19,200 farms (2011).
Academic
2 Dutch universities feature in
the European top 10 with regard
to the number of publications
related to the agri-food sector.

€ 48 billion
added value for the
R&D
Dutch economy
Number 2 (as a % of GDP) in Europe
for private R&D investments made by
companies located in the Netherlands.
Illustration: Ingrid Joustra
Agri-Food 9
Interview
Photo: HH/Wiebe Kiestra
“If you manage
raw materials
efficiently, you
will create
added value”
10 MADE IN HOLLAND