Food, food innovation and food production are the focus of this year’s Dutch Agri Food Week (5-16 October 2018). The Week includes numerous meetings, debates, lectures and workshops around the country that connect the parties involved in the food sector work: farmers, entrepreneurs from the supply and processing industry, retail, government and scientists. Agricultural sector professionals will share their expertise on safe, sustainable and healthy food production and discuss the topical question of this year’s Dutch Agri Food Week: what do we eat now and what are we going to eat in 2050?
Dutch Agri Food Week was first held in 2015. In 2017 there were already 50,000 visitors and 350 participating organizations. The aim of the fourth edition of Dutch Agri Food Week is “to tell the story about the journey of food from the ground to the mouth”. One of the subtopics, closely connected with the story of food, is the transparency of the food production on every stage. Among the other subtopics are relations of food and health (DAFWeek’s motto is “Good food. Better world”) and food education. All these subtopics are represented on the location of Dutch Agri Food Week in Limburg – in Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo.
“In order to develop innovation, we need collaborations between entrepreneurs, students, researchers and other professionals working in the agricultural sector.”
Dutch Agri Food Week offers a stage for the latest innovations in the agricultural sector. “In 2030 there will be nine billion people on Earth and to feed them innovations in the food sector are necessary,” tells us a spokesman from Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo. “In order to develop innovation, we need collaborations between entrepreneurs, students, researchers and other professionals working in the agricultural sector – that is what is done here at Brightlands, as well.”
Innovations in the food industry are aimed at the development of the sustainable ways of healthy food production in the Netherlands and worldwide – for today and for the future. The objective of Dutch Agri Food Week is to make these important innovations more visible to the society, that is why it is meant for everyone interested in food and food production – either they are professionals from the food sector or consumers. “Some innovations in the food sector are not accepted well by consumers, because of the psychological aspects – like, for example, the usage of insects in the food production,” says the Brightlands Campus Greenport spokesperson.
The Business Opening of Dutch Agri Food Week will take place in Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo on the 5th of October. Any tips from the organizers? “In my view, the most interesting part of the opening day in Greenport is “Experience Tomorrow’s Food” section. During this part of the opening day, the companies and entrepreneurs from the agricultural sector will demonstrate their innovative samples and workshops – for example, a workshop on food waste reduction.”
