Mohammed Alshoaiby Saudi Gazette RIYADH – The Netherlands, the second largest exporter of agricultural goods globally, has launched the Dutch agro-food website in English and Arabic to bring industry leaders together and create solutions for the Saudi market. “The concerns over the depletion of precious non-renewable water resources resulted in ambitious programs,” said Dr. Hans van der Beek, Agricultural Counsellor at the Netherlands Embassy in Riyadh. “Steps have to be taken in order to be able to continue to feed a growing population and at the same time manage underground water reserves.” The agro-food website, accessible at www.dutchagrofood.com, allows businessmen, consumers and farmers in the region to connect and collaborate with their Dutch counterpart on industry solutions, providing an up-to-date agenda, particularly highlighting the sectors of fisheries and aquaculture, horticulture, and poultry. The website comes from the Dutch agro-food representation in the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, with specialized staff in Riyadh, Algiers, Cairo, and Rabat. Cooperation in agriculture between the two kingdoms has been active since the 70's, when a large cooperative program on potato cultivation helped develop the sector in Saudi Arabia. “At present, we are engaged in setting up a dedicated center for agricultural information, and developing an institute for sustainable agriculture where water-use efficiency will be the main driver,” said Beek. Estidamah will help train Saudis of all related sectors on sustainable progress, where supply is utilized efficiently, Beek added. “With the Ministry of Agriculture, we are at present participating in designing a program to restructure the fish farming sector,” Beek indicated, adding that the Dutch private sector is heavily involved in the poultry industry here. The three main aspects of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands in the field of agriculture are in water use efficiency, food safety, and value-supply chain management. “The Netherlands wants to promote green-education, meaning capacity building at all levels in agro-food matters, ranging from vocational training to academic MSc and Ph.D programs,” Beek further said.
