Dutch Agro Food Technology Desired In South East Asia

Countries in South East Asia want to invest in adding value to their own agricultural products. Vietnam and Thailand want to use Dutch agro knowledge for this. Controllable mobile cold storage places are used from the Netherlands. Increasingly often, those new techniques are based on the internet, such as track and tracing of agricultural products. On March 18th the agricultural councils active in 74 countries will meet to support Dutch entrepreneurs in the agro food sector in the NBC in Nieuwegein.

Since the trade boycott by Russia the Dutch fruit growers have been looking for other sales markets. One of those sales markets is Vietnam, now a full trade partner with the Netherlands. "At the end of last year we received permission to export Dutch apples and pears to Vietnam," says Arie Veldhuizen of the Dutch embassy in Hanoi, which support Dutch entrepreneurs in South East Asia. The first shipment of pears arrived on February 24th.

Storage of fruit

"A very strong point in the Dutch agrosector is traceability. When you buy a Dutch product you know where it comes from. Importing countries throughout Asia believe this is very important. The treatment of the product after arrival is also important," says Veldhuizen. "Pears from the Netherlands have to be stored in the right way after arrival in Vietnam. The Netherlands has the knowledge to contribute to the development of capacity for cooled storage. The Topsector Tuinbouw en Uitgangsmaterialen (Horticulture and Starting Material) and the Wageningen UR have already developed initiatives in this with mobile storage facilities. From these cold storage places Dutch fruit can be stored under controlled conditions." The storage conditions can be determined and set at a distance - from the Netherlands. "In these cold storages apples and pears remain good for a very long time, even in countries with different climates to the Netherlands," says Veldhuizen.

Roses

"Entrepreneurs in both Vietnam and Thailand want to master these technologies themselves and the Netherlands is seen as a global frontrunner in the area of agro knowledge and technology. This is why these countries look at Dutch post-harvest techniques to make their agricultural products suitable for export," says Veldhuizen. "Take roses for example: they can grow them very well in Vietnam, but after the harvest they aren't packaged properly or carefully transported. This is at the expense of the quality. With FloraHolland Dutch entrepreneurs can help them handle these products better."

More added value

Another strong point of the agriculture in Vietnam is the production of rice, coffee and cashew nuts: "They go to other countries in bulk. But it would be better for the economy if there was value added to those products. So not exporting all the potatoes, but making crisps out of them." The agro and food industry is still in its infancy in Vietnam, but is a priority, says Veldhuizen. "Vietnam wants to build up this economic activity with the help of Dutch knowledge and technology. It is the ambition of Vietnam to export more agricultural products." Arie Veldhuizen is one of the Agricultural Councils active in 74 countries to support Dutch entrepreneurs in the agro and food sector. On March 16th these Agricultural Councils will meet in the NBC in Nieuwegein.

Khoa Le

Source: Agroberichten Buitenland