Dutch horticulture experts welcome U.S. Ambassador

On May 1, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra visited World Horti Center in the run up to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). Dutch Greenhouse Delta represents the horticulture sector and is the central liaison body for this international event whose main themes will be food, water, energy, health and connectivity. The Ambassador was invited by Dutch Greenhouse Delta to get acquainted with the greenhouse horticulture sector in the Netherlands. 

The U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, Pete Hoekstra, and his delegation were received by Eric Egberts, CEO of Dutch Greenhouse Delta, and Erwin Cardol, director of World Horti Center. The Ambassador attended a round table discussion with representatives of various Dutch horticulture companies. Participants discussed both Dutch and U.S. horticultural issues. The main theme was the trade climate between the two countries. 

The visit of the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, Pete Hoekstra, ended in the All Climate Greenhouse in World Horti Center. Credit: Rolf van Koppen Fotografie

Eric Egberts, CEO of Dutch Greenhouse Delta: “Ambassador Hoekstra was keen to learn more about the development of Dutch horticulture. He asked how we could ensure that Dutch horticulture continued to top the international charts. We also discussed home-grown production in the Netherlands as opposed to importing fresh produce. Finally, we at DGD expressed the wish to collaborate more closely with U.S. parties in the area of vertical farming. This is a fast-growing market in the United States.” 
 
Other participants in the round table discussion were Mike Vermeij (BOM Group), Maren Schoormans (Priva), Evert Hamblok (Koppert Biological Systems), Klaas de Haan (Axia Seeds) and Mart Valstar (Best Fresh Group). 
 
After the discussion, Dutch Greenhouse Delta provided a tour of the exhibition floor in the World Horti Center, where other DGD members gave short pitches. It gave Pete Hoekstra the opportunity to find out more about the horticultural ambitions of DOOR, Floricultura, Dümmen Orange, Certhon, Dutch Greenhouses and SPX Flow. Finally, the delegation visited the All Climate Greenhouse, which can be used to replicate the climate anywhere in the world.
 
A joint lunch rounded off the U.S. delegation’s visit.