From November 26th to November 30th, Mr. Marcel van Raaij, acting director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of The Netherlands, will head a horticulture trade mission to China. A total of 19 Dutch companies and institutes – including Dutch Greenhouse Delta – join the mission.
Greenhouse horticulture is rapidly developing in China, as consumers are interested in high-quality, organic, and healthy vegetables. The scale of China’s greenhouse horticulture has continued to expand in recent years, and also its technical equipment has gradually improved.
However, there remains room for improvement and development. For example, overfertilization still exists, and biological control of pest is lacking. Using of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides with a low level of toxics and low residue on vegetables can still be encouraged. There is also a shortage of technical talents in operating high-tech greenhouses. In addition, equipment integration is still insufficient. The average yield per unit area of vegetable and flowers is lower than those in developed countries, such as the Netherlands, and the profitability of high tech greenhouses is still low. Strengthening cooperation between the Netherlands and China in the horticultural field will benefit both parties.
The aim of the mission is to have in-depth exchanges with Chinese horticultural entrepreneurs, to strengthen and promote close cooperation between the Chinese and Dutch governments, and to create a communication platform and business opportunities for Dutch and Chinese enterprises and research institutes. As a leader in the field of greenhouse horticulture in the world, the Netherlands has a highly integrated supply chain from farm to table, including plant breeding, processing of fresh produce, greenhouse technology and cold chain logistics.
The Delegation
A total of 19 Dutch companies and institutes will participate in the delegation, covering greenhouse design and construction, climate-control and cultivation management systems, logistics systems, flower breeding, software applications, AI technology, education and training, and other aspects. The delegation will go to Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing to hold one-on-one business meetings with local companies to discuss policies, development trends, and future cooperation possibilities in the facility horticulture industry. The delegation will also visit modern agricultural parks in Fengxian district in Shanghai, in Changzhou and in Nanjing. How to develop greenhouses in mega cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and how to improve the sustainable supply of safe and adequate agricultural products will also be focus points during the trade mission.
For more information about this horticulture trade mission, please follow this link
