Agricultural Innovation Action Plan signed between the Province of British Columbia and the Netherlands

28 May Agricultural Innovation Action Plan signed between the Province of British Columbia and the Netherlands

An Agricultural Innovation Action Plan between the Province of British Columbia (BC) and the Netherlands was jointly signed by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands on May 23^rd, 2022.

The newly signed agreement, building upon the previous Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in November 2019, aims to promote/strengthen agricultural innovation, increase food security, and support agritech opportunities in both British Columbia and the Netherlands. Ravi Kahlon, the BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, and Guido Landheer, the Assistant Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands, met in the Netherlands to discuss both the contents of the Action Plan and implementation strategies to encourage the collaboration between government, science/academia, and companies in both jurisdictions. The continued collaboration will aid in creating more sustainable agriculture and help to improve food systems in British Columbia and the Netherlands.

The agreement aligns with the province’s StrongerBC Economic Plan, a plan that seeks out to “create more sustainable jobs and opportunities for British Columbians and better position B.C. as a front-runner in agritech,” Minister Kahlon said. The Netherlands’ keen interest and expertise in circular agriculture, specifically on sustainable food production, is relevant to B.C.’s agritech sector and has helped shape the recovery goals outlined within the province’s economic plan.

“The Dutch are known for their innovative food practices, and we are excited to expand our work with the Netherlands, while showcasing our own prosperous farming communities. This agreement will allow for more strategic resource sharing and create new opportunities for agritech practices and existing traditional farms right here at home.” --Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Government of British Columbia

Visit to Wageningen University & Research (WUR)

Minister Kahlon visited Wageningen University & Research (WUR), a leader in agricultural technology research and voted the best agricultural research institution in the world, following the signing of the new agreement between BC and the Netherlands. The Minister’s visit to the WUR, located in the Food Valley region of the country, was used as opportunity to establish new connections, learn about the latest developments and advancements within the agritech space, and to further solidify and emphasize the province’s interest in the continued collaboration with the Netherlands.

GreenTech

GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from June 14-16 at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre. Supported by the recently signed agreement, to highlight some of the more recent developments in agritech, the Embassy of Canada in The Hague, in collaboration with the British Columbia and Quebec governments, will be hosting a “Canada Seminar” on Wednesday, June 15th, from 8:00-9:00 AM. The session will provide attendees with information on Canadian/Dutch agro-technology, investment opportunities, and first-hand accounts from companies who are currently doing business in both Canada and the Netherlands. Presentations will be led by key players within the sector and the seminar aims to facilitate matchmaking between companies from each of the jurisdictions.

In addition to the session that will be held on June 15^th, there will also be several country pavilions that visitors can expect to see. The Canada pavilion will showcase a number of Canadian agtech companies from both British Columbia and Quebec.