8 delegations, 250 guests at horti networking dinner

These international delegations are in the Netherlands to visit GreenTech, the internationally renowned horticultural technology exhibition held at RAI Amsterdam (June 13-15). It was a unique opportunity to organize a major networking event at a location that will become an important part of the Flora Campus Westland. In the coming years, the area surrounding the World Horti Center will accommodate not only residential buildings but also schools and businesses which will transform the region into an innovation hub for greenhouse horticulture.

Pieter Varekamp, Alderman of the Municipality of Westland, stated, "With this event, we were able to show our innovative strength and sustainability ambitions of our greenhouse horticulture cluster. I think it's great that many international government delegations and companies from the greenhouse horticulture industry were present at the heart of the greenhouse horticulture industry.”

The delegations are visiting the Netherlands, among other reasons, at the invitation of the cooperating horticultural organizations including Dutch Greenhouse Delta, an organization that promotes the Dutch horticulture sector internationally. Mirjam Boekestijn, CEO of DGD, said, "Together with our partners, we hosted delegations from Kazakhstan, China, India, and the Gulf region. Tonight, it was once again confirmed that the urgency for food safety and food security is higher than ever: a global challenge in which the Dutch cluster can truly make a difference. This networking dinner was a fantastic start of a week in which we encourage long-term collaboration between the Dutch cluster and the incoming delegations."

The Ministry of Agriculture was co-hosting this evening. Ralf van de Beek, Director Agribusiness at the Ministry, praised the cooperation in the Horticulture sector.  “Due to its innovative power, in which the sector players work together, we are capable in offering solutions for worldwide global challenges such as vegetable production in times of climate change, and food security. This dinner too was a joint effort, organized by the Municipality of Westland, Dutch Greenhouse Delta, World Horti Center, Greenport West-Holland, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Innovation Quarter, Topsector Horticulture & Starting Materials, and AVAG. It is a unique feature of this competitive sector.”

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