China is facing a strong urbanization of its population and a growing demand for fresh and safe food by that urban population. To meet this demand, the Chinese government wants to modernize its agricultural sector. The current productivity per hectare is low, water use is high and suitable agricultural land is scarce and saline. In addition to technological innovation, the Chinese labor force must be trained to make this change in the agricultural sector.
This offers a great opportunity for the Dutch horticulture industry, as a forerunner in the world, to export knowledge, technology, services and concepts and to implement them in China.
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. This PIB, called ‘NL Protected Agri Alliance China’, aims to position the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector in China as the cooperation partner for the development and implementation of integral and sustainable high-tech greenhouse horticulture agroparks near metropolitan areas.
The Netherlands is a specialist in combining all parties in the horticultural sector in a coherent agro-cluster at a single geographical location. We are promoting this cluster concept in China based on an ecosystem approach. The Netherlands is also a leader in the field of sustainable and energy-efficient greenhouse horticulture based on an increasing number of sustainable energy sources (including solar energy, geothermal energy, biofuels and combined heat and power plants), the use of LED lighting and the capture of CO2 released by heating the greenhouse. Efficient use of its own residual streams and those of other parties in the area is an important component of this.
There is a huge export potential in the future, because more and more Chinese are living in metropolitan areas. This potential applies to both SMEs and large companies that will work together to conquer this metropolitan market.
By joining forces, horticultural companies, the Dutch government, and knowledge institutions can present themselves more strongly than individual parties.
Dutch Greenhouse Delta coordinates the PIB NL Protected Agri Alliance China , in close cooperation with the Dutch government and embassy network. These companies are the cluster members:
This whitepaper explains how Dutch knowledge and innovative technology can help China with sustainable and safe food production.
Learn more about the specific challenges, chances, and solutions, discussed by the China experts working for Dutch horticultural suppliers. Also, successful Dutch projects in China, are presented in this whitepaper.
Several parties and China experts have contributed to the paper, such as Dutch Greenhouse Delta, Hoogendoorn Growth Management, KUBO, Ridder, Signify, and Svensson.
The covered cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers is in great swing all over China. “This varies from very large-scale high-tech greenhouses to small-scale companies, which are developing strongly technically. High-quality Venlo greenhouses are emerging, but the acreage of tunnel greenhouses for the cultivation of soft fruit, for example, is still growing rapidly,” says Fulco Wijdooge.
Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD): Industrial clusters of the entire value chain, helps to drive the development of China’s protected agriculture. In China, the middle class and the need for fresh and safe food are growing rapidly, but at the same time, the Chinese agricultural sector is struggling with several sustainability issues. Dutch knowledge and horticultural experience provide optimal solutions for the development of sustainable agriculture in China
Chinese greenhouse horticulture is evolving at a rapid pace. And in the years to come, it shows the possibilities of speeding up, even more, expects Gloria Zhang of climate screen supplier Svensson. But there are also challenges to overcome: among others, the high energy prices and the moderate horticultural expertise level. Gloria is confident that “the collaboration with Dutch Greenhouse Delta and the PIB China will help to present Svensson’s value in the market and working together with all the members allows us to provide a total solution of the value chain to growers in this country.”
Location: Tibet
Crop: Tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, and other vegetables and fruits
Type: Hydroponic
Surface: 3.328 m²
Location: Shaanxi, China
Crop: Strawberries and vegetables
Type: High-tech advanced greenhouse
Surface: 75.000 m²
Location: Kaishenghaofeng, Laixi
Crop: Tomatoes
Type: Climate-controlled greenhouse
Surface: 140.000 m²
Location: Linxia International Flower Port, Gansu Provence
Crop: Cut roses
Location: Haisheng Pingliang, Gansu Provence
Crop: Cherry tomatoes, Young plants
Type: KUBO Ultra-Clima® greenhouse
Surface: 120.000 m²
Location: Baiyin City, Gansu provence
Crop: Tomatoes and cucumbers
Type: KUBO Ultra-Clima® greenhouse
Location: Beijing
Crop: Flowers
Type: Academy
Location: Shanghai
Crop: Tomatoes, cucumbers,
peppers and lettuce
Type: semi closed greenhouse
Surface: 20.000 m²
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