BD-Netherlands Agribusiness ConferenceFocus on utilising Dutch tech, innovation in country

The day-long Bangladesh-Netherlands Agribusiness Conference 2022 was held in the Hague, the Netherlands on Sunday to increase innovation and cooperation, especially in agro-processing sector.

The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Embassy in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), said a MoA release.

Discussions on innovation and cooperation in the fields of agricultural processing, horticulture, dairy, fisheries and poultry took place in the programme.

The participants focused on how Dutch knowledge, experience, technology and innovation could be utilised in Bangladesh.

MoA Secretary Md Sayedul Islam, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Hague M Riaz Hamidullah, deputy director general of the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture Guido Landheer, executive director of the Netherlands Food Partnership Myrtle Dance, Dutch Topsector Agro-Foods director Willemien van Asselt, and digital innovation partner Jan Carroll Mac spoke, among others, in the conference.

Private agribusiness sector representatives of the two countries were also present.

The MoA secretary highlighted the achievements and potentials of Bangladesh agriculture.

He said unbelievable success has been achieved in agricultural production during the tenure of the current government.

"Works are underway for (ensuring) sustainable food security and turning agriculture into a profitable venture".

This interaction as well as exchange with the Netherlands could help Bangladesh achieve the goals by using the experience, technology and innovations of the country, Mr Islam commented.

He also sought cooperation of the Netherlands in proper water management in the coastal, haor and Barind regions along with agricultural processing, establishment of accredited labs for quality control of agricultural products, and post-harvest management.

The agro-food traders of the Netherlands assured that they would work to remove existing barriers for exporting Bangladeshi agricultural products to the country.

Relations between the two countries would be strengthened further as well as cooperation would be intensified in seed production, transportation and agro-processing, they opined.

The Netherlands, having one-fourth land of Bangladesh, is the second largest agro exporter in the globe through its innovations as well as modern agro-processing industries.

According to reports of WUR and Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the country's agricultural export value in 2021 was estimated at 104.7 billion euros (more than US$ 112.7 billion).