Recently, Medellín hosted Expo Agrofuturo 2025, one of Latin America’s leading agricultural trade fairs. For this edition, the Netherlands participated with a delegation of nine innovative companies, who showcased Dutch expertise and technology for the agricultural sector. The Netherlands Pavilion was developed in close collaboration between the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Holland House Colombia, ensuring strong alignment with local partners and sector needs.
Beeld: © LAN Andes
Field Visits: Learning from Colombia’s Agro Success Stories
Ahead of the fair, the Dutch delegation visited some of Colombia’s most iconic agribusinesses:
- Flores El Capiro, one of the world’s largest chrysanthemum exporters, highlighted the strength of Colombia’s floriculture sector and the opportunities for Dutch companies.
- Cartama, a leading producer of Hass avocados, illustrated the scale and sophistication of Colombia’s avocado industry, underlining opportunities in cold chain, disease management, and sustainability.
- Avolab, the country’s first agricultural innovation laboratory, showcased how research and experimentation are being applied locally to create value and foster innovation in the sector.
Beeld: © LAN Andes
These visits offered Dutch entrepreneurs first-hand insights into the progress, challenges, and opportunities in Colombian agriculture, ranging from sustainability to logistics, financing, and digitalization.
About Expo Agrofuturo
Expo Agrofuturo is recognized as one of the most important platforms for the agricultural sector in Latin America. Every year, it brings together producers, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from across the world. Beyond the commercial exhibition, the fair features conferences, workshops, and matchmaking spaces that foster knowledge exchange and strengthen value chains.
The 2025 edition welcomed over 14,000 visitors and nearly 400 exhibitors from Colombia and abroad. It serves not only as a marketplace but also as a hub for innovation, sustainability, and the transformation of traditional agriculture into agribusiness.
Dutch Companies at the Pavilion
This year’s Netherlands Pavilion gathered nine companies, each offering innovative solutions tailored to agricultural challenges in Colombia:
- PUM – A non-profit network of 1,200 Dutch experts providing voluntary advice to strengthen entrepreneurship and sustainable practices.
- Holland Agro Systems SAS – Specialists in automation and climate control for poultry, swine, horticulture, and storage facilities.
- De Gier Drive Systems – A global supplier of drive technology for greenhouses and livestock stables, ensuring optimal growing and housing conditions.
- Van Vliet Containers | Newwen – Providers of reusable logistics solutions, sustainable packaging, and circular system design for agriculture and horticulture.
- Shypple Fresh B.V. – The world’s first digital freight forwarder for perishables, offering transparency and efficiency in cold chain logistics.
- FutureWater – A consulting and research leader in water resource management, combining scientific innovation with practical applications.
- Biron BV – Developer of customized fertilizers enriched with microelements to improve plant nutrition and productivity.
- Amstel Agro BV – Innovators in soil regeneration and plant nutrition, combining advanced science with sustainable agricultural practices.
- Rijk Zwaan – A global seed company offering over 1,500 high-quality vegetable varieties, supporting growers with resilient and productive crops.
Beeld: © LAN Andes
Together, these companies represent Dutch strengths in sustainable production, water management, greenhouse technologies, digital logistics, and plant innovation, all highly relevant to Colombia’s agricultural transformation.
Networking & Stakeholder Engagement
A highlight of the Netherlands Pavilion was the networking cocktail, which gathered key stakeholders from Colombian agribusiness, government, and academia. For the Dutch delegation, it was the ideal moment to strengthen relationships initiated during the fair and the field visits, laying the foundation for future collaborations, pilot projects, and technology transfer.
Beeld: © LAN Andes
Shared Commitment: Colombia and the Netherlands
During the fair, the Dutch message echoed familiar themes: despite being a small country, the Netherlands has become one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters thanks to innovation, knowledge, and sustainability. Colombia, with its diverse climates and growing agribusiness potential, is a natural partner.
The Netherlands reaffirmed its commitment to support Colombia in building more sustainable food systems, advancing climate-smart practices, improving water management, and conserving biodiversity. Both countries share the vision that agricultural growth must go hand in hand with sustainability, resilience, and inclusive development.
Looking Ahead
The Dutch presence at Expo Agrofuturo 2025 reaffirmed the strength of the Colombia–Netherlands partnership in agriculture. By connecting Dutch innovations with Colombian opportunities, both countries are building bridges for a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive agro sector, one that will continue to bear fruit in the years to come.
More information
If you would like to get in touch with one or more of the participating companies, do not hesitate to contact us through our agricultural office in Colombia: bog-lvvn@minbuza.nl