Beijing – In response to the global challenges posed by climate change, resource depletion, and an aging population, greenhouse horticulture emerges as a pivotal avenue to advance modern agriculture and enhance food production. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China underscored this trajectory in its 2023 No. 1 document, advocating for the intensified development of modern agriculture facilities, including the transformation and upgrading of existing greenhouses.
Minister Tang Renjian articulated a vision for substantial investments in high-standard farmland and facility agriculture, estimating a demand of nearly 15 trillion yuan over the next 5-10 years. Greenhouses, ranging from conventional to high-tech, play a significant role in facility agriculture, prompting various provinces and cities in China, such as Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Shanghai, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Beijing, to announce local policies supporting the growth of greenhouse horticulture.
Against this backdrop, the Netherlands, renowned for its highly integrated and advanced horticulture industry, is leading a Horticulture Trade Mission to China from November 26th to November 30th. The mission, headed by Mr. Marcel van Raaij, acting director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of The Netherlands, aims to foster close collaboration between Chinese and Dutch governments and create a platform for communication and business opportunities among enterprises and research institutes.
The Dutch delegation comprises 19 companies and institutes representing various facets of the horticulture sector, including greenhouse design and construction, climate-control and cultivation management systems, logistics systems, flower breeding, software applications, AI technology, education, and training.
The itinerary encompasses visits to Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, where the delegation will engage in one-on-one business meetings with local companies to discuss policies, development trends, and potential collaborations in facility horticulture. The delegation will also explore modern agricultural parks in Fengxian district of Shanghai, Changzhou, and Nanjing, with a focus on developing greenhouses in mega-cities and enhancing sustainable supply chains for safe agricultural products.
Key events during the trade mission include an Agriculture Conference – Farming the Future in Beijing, a seminar on sustainable development of horticulture in megacities in Shanghai, and visits to agricultural demonstration centers and production bases. The mission aims to enhance cooperation and knowledge exchange between the Netherlands and China, contributing to the sustainable development of greenhouse horticulture in both nations.
The detailed itinerary of the trade mission is as follows:
November 27, Beijing:
- Morning: Agriculture Conference – Farming the Future
- Afternoon: Agribusiness Matchmaking
November 28, Shanghai:
- Morning: Seminar: Sustainable development of horticulture with modern facilities in megacities – digitalization and intelligence
- Afternoon: Modern Greenhouse Horticulture Matchmaking
- Evening: Network Dinner
November 29, Shanghai, Jiashan, and Changzhou:
- Morning: Visit Jiashan HX Sino-Dutch Agricultural Demonstration Center and attend the opening ceremony
- Afternoon: Visit Xinghui Vegetable Production Base in Fengxian district of Shanghai and Modern Agriculture Park in Changzhou
November 30, Nanjing, Jiangsu:
- Morning: Visit Nanjing Qiaofeng Agriculture Development Group
- Afternoon: Nanjing-Netherlands Horticulture Exchange Meeting and Workshop on Data-assisted growing (AI in greenhouse) by Wageningen University and Research
- Evening: Network Dinner
The trade mission aligns with the broader global effort to address challenges in agriculture through innovation, sustainable practices, and international collaboration.