In 2020 the Olympic Games will take place in Tokyo. In the run-up to that, the Netherlands will present itself in Expo of the TeamNL Tokyo Center in Tokyo. Oost NL organizes an AgriFoodTech trade mission in cooperation with the Dutch embassy in Tokyo, Wageningen University & Research, IMEC/OnePlanet, Foodvalley and Kennispoort Regio Zwolle. The mission brings technological innovation, expertise development and cooperation to entrepreneurs who want to discover their opportunities in Japan. For the business market, there is already a lot to be gained in Japan in the month prior to the Games.
Part of the mission is a visit to the Foodvalley Summit Personalised Nutrition. During the summit organised by Foodvalley, participants in the mission can also follow a separate 'side program' AgTech and participate in the matchmaking.
Opportunities for the Netherlands
Japan's ambition is to modernise its agricultural sector. It has generous subsidies available for this purpose. The country is hungry for agricultural knowledge and the Netherlands is seen as a guide country. The good reputation of the Dutch AgroTech Food sector and the increasing demand for innovative products offer opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs. For this reason, Dutch knowledge companies are very active in Japan in areas such as, precision agriculture and nutrition.
Trade agreement with Japan
The European trade agreement with Japan (EPA) lowers thresholds for Dutch exporters. The agricultural sector in Japan is facing major challenges, due to a shortage of labour, geographical circumstances and high food prices. This calls for smart innovations that contribute to the economical and smart use of raw materials and land, improve food production processes and guarantee food safety and security.
High Tech and ICT play a key role in this. There is a great need for high-quality technological solutions for the AgriFood sector in Japan. In view of the agricultural challenges, Japan is primarily looking for knowledge in the field of labour savings (robotics, smart agriculture), precision agriculture, bio-based economy, chain management and cost price reduction. Examples include sensors, drones, robots, big data, vision, LED lighting, system design & integration, automation, data analysis, ICT and food technology. Dutch companies that are active in these fields can therefore count on a great deal of interest from Japanese companies. The mission is a good opportunity to introduce your company or knowledge institution and explore your market opportunities in Japan.
Transition Towards a Data Driven Agriculture
A good recent example is a public-private partnership project entitled 'Transition Towards a Data Driven Agriculture - for a new Dutch & Japanese Potato Circular Value Chain (TTADDA)'. This precision agriculture project wants to take steps towards a circular potato chain and has, considering their budget of €2.3 million, high ambitions. The Japanese-Dutch PPP consortium of twelve companies (including WUR, the Japanese research institute NARO, Tolsma, Solynta and Kubota) will start in 2020. Funded from the top sector programme, it is intended to increase production in potato cultivation. With the use of robotics, sensors and artificial intelligence, labour productivity should be reduced, while the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides will be limited. By screening the cultivation process both underground and above ground, yield and quality can be improved and food loss during storage can be reduced.
Why participate?
> Matchmaking: on the basis of your wishes, a professional party will provide matchmaking to potential business partners in Japan.
> Varied programme: participation in networking events, company visits and visiting Olympic venues;
> Local network: access to the network built by the Dutch embassy;
> Introduction to Japanese (business) culture and (technological) developments;
> Learning from and networking with experience experts from companies, knowledge institutions, government and experts who are deeply rooted in Japan.
For whom
Are you an R&D manager, CEO, CTO or business development manager of a company or knowledge institution active in the AgriTech sector? Are you interested in the Japanese market or entering into partnerships with Japanese companies or investors in the food industry? Then this mission is a great opportunity for your company.
Interested?
This mission is open to companies from all over the Netherlands. Participation costs € 395,- per participant including participation in the Foodvalley summit and tours, excluding travel and accommodation costs and VAT. Are you interested in participating? Then please fill in the registration form. Do you have any questions about the mission? Please contact Belqis Askaryar (belqis [dot] askaryar [at] oostnl [dot] nl), T: 06 - 14 97 95 34.
