Extreme climate requires innovation and sustainability
The needs for self-sufficiency and local conditions (including for doing business) differ strongly between the countries in the Gulf. There are, for example, climate difference and different (geo)political and economic challenges. But there are also corresponding challenges, such as climate, sustainability and ultimately the same desire to become more locally self-sufficient. Producing safe, hygienic and sustainable food is (technically) possible in the Gulf region in greenhouses or indoors. Depending on the business model, location and/or investor, the right techniques will be chosen.
The extreme climates in the target countries require innovation and sustainability aimed at the production of high-quality fruit and vegetables, especially when the desire is for year-round production and there is an awareness of regional vulnerabilities associated with, for example, water scarcity.
Public-private partnership to help Gulf-countries become more self-sufficient
Doing business in the region requires a collective approach to better respond to local needs and issues and to position (glass) horticulture Netherlands more effectively in the Gulf. As of January 2021, DGD has started a PIB together with RVO. PIB stands for Partners for International Business and is a program that allows Dutch companies to realise their international ambitions in a public-private partnership. The demand for-and consumption of-fresh food, due to increasing population growth, tourism and improved health care will continue to grow. High-quality technology, to handle the volume, is therefore essential. By offering a total solution, in terms of horticultural technology, management (guidance) and knowledge transfer, we believe we can help countries in the Gulf region become more self-sufficient. As the Netherlands, we want to provide a solution for the local food production system. We will specifically focus on covered crops and crops with high added value, such as tomato, sweet bell pepper, cucumber and eggplant. More info can be found at the PIB HortiRoad2theGulf-website.
Dutch Greenhouse Delta and Innovation Quarter coordinate the PIB Hortiroad2theGulf, in close cooperation with the Dutch government and embassy network. These companies are PIB ‘HortiRoad2theGulf cluster members:
