IMEC / High Tech Campus Eindhoven studies sensor usage in greenhouse horticulture
IMEC is a leading research institute in nanoelectronics. IMEC has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China, India and Japan and has over 2080 employees. Click here for more information.
IMEC Netherlands develops advanced gas sensors, such as ethylene sensors. Omn 11 April, together with guests from Japan, IMEC visited Kwekerij Moors in Asten-Heusden to learn more about Dutch horticulture and the usage of process- and gasmonitoring in particular. The visit was started with a presentation by Niek Botden of HollandDoor in the company's cafeteria. Afterwards Rob Moors gave a tour of his company and we focused on the technical installations.
The IMEC delegation was astonished about the technologies in use and there were interesting discussions about possibilities for improving and usage of gas sensors.
International Business Immersion Program (IBIP) visits again The Netherlands!
The International Business Immersion Program (IBIP) of Illinois University from USA visits frequently The Netherlands when their tours target at Europe. The primary goal of IBIP is to prepare international agri- and foodbusiness masterstudents to identify and respond to challenges associated with business operations in the global marketplace. Every year the program takes students to South America, Asia or Europe and every time the tour is changing its theme so the tour program do differ in focus.
After being involved in the programs of 2009, 2011 and 2012, also for this 2015 edition, HollandDoor was requested to prepare a tailor-made study tour program which should contain both company visits as well touristic elements for period of 22 – 26 May 2015. The theme for the 2015 tour was defined as: “Firm, Channel, and Industry Dynamics within the European Agri-Food Sector” and this theme was subdivided in following sub-themes research by small student groups throughout the Europe tour:
European Dairy: “What are the principles of the dairy industry both in the United States as well as Europe and how do consumers react to alternative dairy practices in terms of production and regulation comparatively?”
European Family farm sizes and sustainability: “How will family agriculture remain sustainable and contribute to the challenge of feeding a growing world population when arable land becomes more vital?”
Food Waste Reduction Technology: “What are the technologies at the production and retail segments of the supply chain; and how do they impact the overall food waste throughout the supply chain?”
Slow Food Movement: “How is the Slow Food Movement working to make positive strides on the front of environmental issues and specific cultural and endangered foods? How are Slow Food producers and products recognized in the market?”
Wine Production and Distribution in restaurants and supermarkets: “Is there currently a market for locally produced wine in Europe and the United States and how can locally produced wine be marketed to a wider range of European consumers?”
The tour program was intensive which resulted in many visits in short span of time. HollandDoor and the students of IBIP2015 whould like to thank all involved people and companies and want to mention at least following: Solyco, Boerderij Het Lansingerland, So Natural, Albert Heijn, Fenix Food Factory, Management Markthal Rotterdam, Pepsico Quaker Oats, Vinium.net, Monsanto
Objective of the tour program was to inform the students about actual status and ongoing trends in (glass-)greenhouse sector in Northwest-Europe and its linkage towards local society. the program had to be inspiring for the students and the new relations should be of importance in their future professional careers.
The tour program was intensive which resulted in many visits in short span of time. HollandDoor and the students of OKState whould like to thank all involved people and companies and want to mention at least following: Brightbox, Gerja Gerbera’s, Peppers Unlimited, Kalter Strawberries, Schooneveld Breeding, FloraHolland, Nice2Get, Nolina Potroses, Rijnbeek, GreenQ, Solyco, LMC, Ilvo.
Cuba agriculture reform committee studies Dutch agriculture
The Dutch embassy in Cuba requested HollandDoor to organize a tailormade study trip of 1 week for 4 members of the Cuban agricultural reform committee: Mr. Roberto Ramón Pérez Pérez (delegation leader), Mrs. Marlene Maidelene Veitía Rubio, Mr. Antihus Alexander Hernández Gómez and Mr. Lázaro Peña Castellanos. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Rodney Bustamanta Salazar, economic employee of the Dutch embassy. Mr. Fermín Quiñones Sánchez, the new Cuban ambassador in the Netherlands, joined also a few times the group during the trip in The Netherlands.
HollandDoor organized a tailor made studytrip in period of 7 - 14 December 2014 in which the Dutch agro sector was higlighted from different perspectives. Companies and sector organizations of different agro sectors and chainlinks were visited. Also several visits were made to ministries and agencies to discuss the facilitating and enabling role of the Dutch government. Academic and applied research, education and extension services were highlighted. The whole program was put in a framework of sustainable production and Corporate Social Responsibility as important drivers behind the current configuration of the Dutch agro cluster.
Since 2011 is Cuba working on an update of its economic and agricultural policy in which small steps are taken to a more market driven way of working. Individual farmers can now rent agricultural land, cooperatives are now also allowed in marketing and transport and a small part of the yield is allowed to be freely traded. Despite these policy changes, the daily agricultural practices show a rather conservative attitude in adopting these new possibilities. More awareness and knowledge transfer toward the agricultural sector might be needed to stimulate innovations in Cuban agricultural sector. About 80% of Cuban food demand is currently imported which has huge impact on the trade balance. Especially crops are imported which can be produced in Cuba as well due to its good climate and soil fertility. In this perspective, the Cuban government is working on a policy to realize import substitution and export promotion. It is very important that Cuba's economy is growing and their agricultural sector has the potential to be one of the drivers for this. However, governmental policy has to facilitate and enable this growth and for this reason an agricultural reform committee has been created to act as "thinktank".
Objective of the visit to The Netherland was to deliver a contribution to this new Cuban agricultural policy development. The Netherlands is interested to become partner in this policy development and realization in dayly agricultural practice. This will open possibilities for Dutch agricultural companies and institutes. The visit of the Cuban delegation to The Netherlands should result in strengthening of bilateral relations and create awareness of and definition of possibilities to work together in optimization of agricultural production, processing, trade and logistics. This process should be stimulated by having also more understanding of the economical, social and political framework in which the Dutch agro sector works on a global platform.
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Windset Farms from USA and Canada requested HollandDoor to organize a tailor made study trip to the Arava District in Israel.
Mr. Steven Newell (CEO) and Mr. Robert Antscherl (Head Pepper Grower) of Windset Farms visited on 24 November 2014 multiple growers in the Arava District in Israel guided by Mr. Zvi Howard Wener, a well know Israelian sweet pepper consultant.
