Cooperation between the Netherlands and China extends beyond knowledge exchange. It represents a joint effort to innovate and grow together.
In expanding collaboration and exploring new opportunities, the Netherlands and China drive greenhouse horticulture toward a more sustainable, efficient, and intelligent future. This partnership will play an important role in enhancing global food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development.
The Netherlands and China are strengthening their partnership to shape a greener and more efficient future for greenhouse horticulture. This collaboration was visible during the recently held Hortiflorexpo IPM in Beijing. Under the theme “Farming the Future,” the Netherlands pavilion, organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, demonstrated an integrated approach to innovation through interactive exhibits, technology demonstrations, and professional exchanges.
Erik Smidt, Counsellor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature at the Embassy of the Netherlands in China, explains: “Dutch companies are increasingly embedding themselves within China’s local agricultural ecosystem, working alongside local partners to develop systems that are both locally grounded and globally scalable. This evolution reflects a learning: success in today’s China requires more than innovation alone. It demands cultural fluency, sustained commitment, and the flexibility to respond to complex, rapidly changing market conditions. In this environment, trust is as critical as technology.”
NL Farming the Future Pavilion at Horti IPM Overview
Featuring 51 Dutch companies, the pavilion showcased the full horticultural value chain, including seed breeding, advanced greenhouse systems, AI-driven cultivation, logistics, and turnkey solutions. This comprehensive display highlighted the Netherlands’ leadership in sustainable horticulture and its long-standing commitment to collaboration with China.
Central to this approach is the philosophy of achieving “more and better, with less.” Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China André Haspels emphasized minimizing environmental impact by bringing production closer to the consumer, reducing the use of land, water, and energy while increasing productivity, sustainability, and value. The Netherlands aims to work closely with partners to advance a shared vision of sustainable agriculture through knowledge and technology.
Developments will be intelligence driven
A key highlight of the event was the Netherlands-China Forum on Modern Greenhouse Horticulture Technologies and Applications. Co-organized with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the forum gathered over a hundred participants from government, research, and industry. Discussions focused on enhancing performance and strengthening international cooperation in horticulture.
The forum underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence. Dr. Wei Xiaoming illustrated how artificial intelligence is transforming China’s agricultural sector by shifting from traditional experience-based methods to precise, data-driven management. This transition marks a significant step toward more efficient and controlled systems.
Strategic insights were also shared on the Netherlands’ innovation ecosystem. Gert Dral highlighted the importance of integrated value-chain development and sectoral clustering. He noted that collaboration between the Netherlands and China can elevate horticultural supply chains while improving energy efficiency and productivity. Practical examples reinforced this perspective, as Chinese companies presented improvements in yield and quality achieved through integrating Dutch and Chinese technologies. Dutch companies, in turn, demonstrated how their greenhouse solutions can be adapted and expanded within the Chinese market.
Converging high-tech expertise and artificial intelligence applications creates a powerful platform for rethinking food systems
Multiple opportunities for joint innovation ahead
The forum also featured a panel discussion exploring lessons from the Netherlands’ greenhouse horticulture development and opportunities for joint innovation. Participants agreed that collaboration holds strong potential across multiple areas, including greenhouse automation, seed technology, talent development, and system building.
Overall, the exhibition and its related events demonstrated not only the Netherlands’ comprehensive solutions for efficient and sustainable horticulture but also the strong alignment between the two countries in advancing horticulture. Through exhibitions, forums, and business interactions, the partnership has deepened across technology integration, knowledge sharing, and market collaboration.
For more information please contact pek-lvvn@minbuza.nl