Joining forces for food safety and
About us
We are HortiRoad2theGulf, a public-private partnership that combines knowledge and expertise from the entire horticulture sector in the Netherlands. We are keen to foster long-term collaboration to execute food security strategies.
Why? In the dynamic landscape of the Gulf region food security, there’s an increased focus on ensuring local safe, fresh food production. A key move towards sustainability and self-reliance. With our knowledge and innovative solutions, we can meet the rising demands for fresh produce in The Gulf nations.
Joining forces for food safety and food security in the Gulf
The Dutch horticulture sector plays a vital role in feeding millions globally. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and sustainable techniques, we cultivate a diverse array of fruits and vegetables. Collaboratively, we can enhance sustainable food production, minimize food loss, and innovate new strategies and business models.
With our combined knowledge, technology, and experience, we can accelerate the achievement of food security and food safety worldwide. By adapting our proven technology to local circumstances, we can provide support in producing ultra-fresh, safe, and delicious vegetables and fruit all year round, at fair prices, and as close to the point of consumption as possible. By reintroducing sustainable food production, we address critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food waste, and public health.
The Netherlands as your partner
In the Netherlands, the government, companies, knowledge institutes and R&D centres develop the tools required to farm the future. HortiRoad2theGulf, as a public-private partnership, was established to assist Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in improving food self-sufficiency. In close cooperation with the Embassies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, and the Consulate General in Dubai, our public-private partnership business cluster is uniquely positioned to understand and navigate the climate and market dynamics of the Gulf region.
Our public-private partnership business cluster partners are ready to collaborate with key stakeholders to enhance their businesses sustainably. Together, we cover all aspects of CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture), from breeding and cultivation to lighting, climate control, and crop protection. Specializing in facilitating your transition from low and mid-tech solutions to high-tech alternatives, we propel your enterprise toward sustainability and profitability. We advocate for minimizing water and energy usage to make sustainability more tangible while optimizing yield and crop quality.
Contributing to the following SDG’s
SDG 03 | Good health and well-being
The aim of the cluster is to increase the availability of fresh, healthy and locally produced food.
SDG 08 | Decent work and economic growth
Encouraging “fair” and “decent” work and involvement of the local community should promote economic growth.
SDG 11 | Sustainable cities and communities
The cluster stimulates local and sustainable production through Dutch technology and knowledge transfer, such as reducing CO2 emissions and water.
SDG 12 | Responsible consumption and production
The current Dutch horticultural technology can serve as an example for the transition towards climate-neutral production systems and already has many circular features.
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Trade missions and activities
Showcases
Pure Harvest Smart Farms
Location: Abu Dhabi
Crop: Tomatoes
Type: SuprimAir
Surface: 10.000 m²
The Green Mast
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Crop:Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers
Type: High-tech hydroponics
Miraah
Location: Miraah, Oman
Type: The special greenhouses generate steam using solar energy; that steam is then used in oil production
Surface: 190.000 m²
Dar Aqua
Location: Hoarat A’ali
Crop: Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens
Type: Aquaponic farm
Growy
Location: Al Wafrah
Crop: 550kg of fresh salads and culinary herbs daily
Type: Indoor Farm
Elite Agro Projects
Locations in entire GCC-region
Crop: Vegetables
Armela Farms
Location: Dubai
Crop: Lettuce and Kale
Type: ModulAIR, Turn-key Surface: 20.000 m²
Estidamah
Location: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Crop: Different vegetables and fruits
Type: Research on agricultural activities and crop management, control of environmental conditions, fertilization and irrigation methods, and integrated pest management
Bustanica
Location: Dubai
Crop: Leafy greens
Type: Indoor farm
Surface: 330.000 m²
Agrico
Location: Qatar, Al Khor
Crop: Vegetables, fruits, leafy greens
Type: Aquaponic, hydroponic and indoor farms
Topian
Location: NEOM
Type: Two separate horticultural test facilities as part of the NEOM development
Surface: 110.000 m²
Coordinators
Dutch Greenhouse Delta
Dutch Greenhouse Delta aims to promote the Dutch horticultural sector worldwide. We are the one-stop shop for complex, large-scale projects concerning food and floriculture issues in growing megacities. By working together with Dutch state-of-the-art partners in horticulture, we bring an integrated Fork2Farm solution that offers a complete ecosystem consisting of science, enterprise, education, and the government.
Partners
Breeding and plant propagation
Grodan
Grodan is a supplier of innovative and sustainable stone wool growing media solutions for the professional horticultural sector, based on Precision Growing principles. These solutions are, amongst others, applied for the cultivation of vegetables and flowers, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, egg plants, roses and gerberas.
Bayer De Ruiter
De Ruiter is passionate about producing the highest quality seeds and working with its customers and chain partners. De Ruiter, part of the Bayer Crop Science division, specialises in the breeding, production and sale of hybrid seeds for greenhouse production of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, aubergines, courgette and rootstock. Together with its growers, the company is dedicated to bringing high-quality, nutritious produce to ensure a balanced plate for its global community.
Climate control and Energy
Hoogendoorn Growth Management
Together with global partners, Hoogendoorn delivers sustainable automation solutions that seamlessly coordinate all processes and systems in your horticultural organization. The modular software ensures that the available resources such as natural gas, fertilizers and water are used as efficiently as possible. With this, Hoogendoorn helps its clients to minimize (energy) costs and CO2 emissions and to maximize crop profitability.
Ridder Group
Ridder is a global leader in horticulture automation solutions, providing advanced technology and connected smart solutions to growers in over 100 countries. With a portfolio of drive systems, process control, water treatment systems, climate screens, robotics and labor-saving tools, Ridder helps growers optimize production processes, improve crop quality, and increase yield.
Svensson
Established in 1887, Ludvig Svensson is a family-owned business with more than 130 years of experience in the textile industry. Our climate screens, which are produced in Sweden and sold around the world under the name Svensson, improve the success of professional greenhouse growers, enhancing the overall greenhouse climate.
Crop Control
Koppert Biological Systems
Koppert Biological Systems produces sustainable cultivation solutions for food crops and ornamental plants. Together with growers and in partnership with nature, we work to make agriculture and horticulture healthier, safer, more productive and resilient. We achieve this by using natural enemies to combat pest infestations, bumblebees for natural pollination, and bio stimulants that support and strengthen the crops both above and underground.
Greenhouse Construction
Kubo
At KUBO we can now look back at almost 80 years in horticulture. A stable family company with the third generation now at the helm. KUBO manages complete greenhouse projects. Contracting, engineering, manufacturing, construction and service. All under our own management. This enables us to monitor the entire process, deliver on time and be certain that we are using the latest technologies and concepts.
Certhon
Certhon develops turnkey, custom-made solutions for the most high-tech horticultural projects, anywhere in the world. Certhon has more than 125 years of experience in horticulture and is based in The Netherlands. We focus on turnkey greenhouse projects, indoor farming, LED lighting, technical installations and innovations such as autonomous growing and robotization of for example harvesting crops.
Horti XS
Horti XS is a lean & agile engineering, assembly and installation company of high-tech indoor farms suitable for the cultivation of crops like tomato, cucumbers, peppers and strawberries in any climate. We have strong partnerships in the Dutch ecosystem of hortitech companies, enabling us to incorporate the latest industry innovations into our designs.
Van der Hoeven Horticultural projects
At Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects we design, build, and operate tailor-made horticultural solutions for our customers, with a reduced footprint in natural resources, water, CO2, and pesticides. We continuously invest in R&D to strengthen our propositions towards our customers. This vision allows us to operate our business successfully for a better future and sets us on the path of our mission: to provide sustainable taste anywhere.
Automation and logistics
Artechno Growsystems
With focus on the plant, our technology and a long-lasting relationship, Artechno Growsystems provides Vertical Farming and horticulture systems. Giving growers the power to deliver the highest crop quality, efficiency and profitably worldwide.
Hortimec
Hortimec is a family-owned business that focuses on young plant technology. Our specialized techniques for growing young plants include state-of-the-art spraying booms. These booms are adapted and tailor-made for local requirements, ensuring uniform watering and effective phyto-sanitary treatment. The software that accompanies our spraying booms is developed according to the latest insights, providing advanced control and monitoring capabilities. Additionally, our booms contribute to uniform rooting and growth, as well as effective non-chemical phytosanitary treatment and anti-fungal disinfection. Hortimec is committed to providing innovative solutions for young plant growers in the horticulture industry
Viscon Group
Viscon Group specializes in factory automation for agriculture and food. Our software, machines, and integrated solutions make food and agriculture processes sustainably profitable, scalable and easy.
Knowledge providers, consultants and service
Delphy
Delphy stands for Worldwide Expertise for Food & Flowers. Delphy is therefore the company in knowledge and expertise for our partners in the vegetable sectors worldwide. We are active in, among others, China, the Middle East, Turkey, Azerbaijan and South Korea. From Delphy China, Delphy Japan and Delphy Turkey, we work with local experts. In this way, the cultivation knowledge developed in the Netherlands is implemented and applied in and on the local conditions.
FoodVentures
FoodVentures manages the entire value chain from soil to supermarket. We believe that high-tech greenhouses are the best solution to feed the global population with fresh and healthy vegetables. We operate modern greenhouses in developing markets to Dutch standards, and sell the produce to demanding supermarkets and restaurants, directly or via channel partners. We delight the consumer with tasty, food-safe vegetables, all year round
Westland
Westland: Leading the way in sustainable horticulture and local food production. As Westland, the capitol of the Greenport in West- Holland, we spread the message of aiming for local sustainable food production all around the world. In our municipal role, we emphasize our joint contribution to several of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, such as ‘Zero Hunger’, ‘Sustainable Cities’, ‘Good Health and Well-being’ and ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’
Horticultural suppliers
BOAL Group
BOAL Group provides greenhouse builders with a comprehensive portfolio of modular systems and solutions for high-tech-covered cultivation. It ranges from complete aluminum greenhouse structures with integrated insect netting and ventilation solutions to insulated storage areas, climate screen systems, or individual greenhouse parts.
Klasmann-Deilmann
Klasmann-Deilmann is the leading corporate group in the international substrate industry, with numerous sales and production companies in Europe, Asia and America, and a network of sales and production partners on every continent. Our growing media provide worldwide a vital basis for the growth of soft fruit, vegetables, edible mushrooms, herbs, ornamental plants, trees and shrubs
Modiform
Modiform offers solutions in cultivation, transport, and packaging systems for the horticulture supply chain based on recycled raw materials. We recover materials from the environment and upcycle these into high-quality, smart, and sustainable products. Modiform was already actively engaged in responsible and sustainable business 45 years ago, and to this day we continue to take new steps towards a cleaner world.
Bosman van Zaal
With over a century of experience in the global horticultural industry, Bosman Van Zaal makes you grow. Bosman Van Zaal stands out for its holistic turnkey approach, handling everything in-house, from design to realisation, bringing complex projects to life. Their expertise spans various domains, including process automation, data management, and the creation of fully controlled production facilities including HVAC and irrigation. All under the umbrella of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
Water Management
PurpleCrown
PurpleCrown brings together a team of tech-savvy experts with deep roots in cultivation. Each member boasts years of firsthand experience in the field, making them well-suited for the job. Our main goal is to provide clients with top-notch tools and essential knowledge to achieve the best results in agriculture. All our subsidiaries work together in perfect alignment, driven by a common vision: to lead the way as the worldwide brand house where technology and cultivation come together, benefiting the entire Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector.
News
Netherlands and Gulf States: Logical Partners in Sustainability & Biodiversity
The challenges in the Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar) are immense. However, their ambitions are equally significant. Agricultural Counsellor for GCC-countries, Simone Landhuis, based at the Dutch embassy in Riyadh, aims for the Netherlands to be recognized as the logical partner for knowledge and technology, sustainability, and biodiversity.
Integral Solutions for Food Security in Saudi Arabia
The Dutch water and horticulture sectors are joining forces to effectively address the global challenges that Saudi Arabia is facing in its transition to food security. This holistic approach aligns with the goals of the Saudi Government to accelerate its food security agenda and embrace sustainable water use.
At the Saudi Agriculture, the largest B2B event for the agricultural sector in the Gulf region, the Dutch horticulture and water sectors are ready to meet and cooperate with local partners to join forces in achieving Saudi Arabia’s agriculture vision for 2030.
Dutch horticultural mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
From October 16 to 19 a Dutch horticultural trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes place. The aim of the mission is to show that the Dutch horticulture sector offers an answer to Saudi Arabia’s demand for self-sufficiency in food security. The trade mission is initiated by Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD) and organized in close cooperation with InnovationQuarter and the Agricultural agency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Large delegation of dignitaries and entrepreneurs from UAE to the Netherlands for Greentech week
In the week of 12 to 17 June, dignitaries, investors and horticultural entrepreneurs from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be visiting the Dutch food & flower industry. The incoming mission from the UAE is officially chaired by Her Excellency Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and the Environment.
Recap Horticultural Days at the Netherlands Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai
The Dutch horticultural industry organized a successful event on the 21st and 22nd of February, where they brought together horticulture and agriculture experts from all over the world, who explored new ways to apply an integrated eco-system approach to boost local and sustainable food production.
Whitepaper: How Dutch knowledge and innovative technologies help the Gulf countries to achieve their food-sufficiency goals
This whitepaper explains how Dutch horticulture can help boost local food production and contribute to achieving sustainability goals, which leads to:
Efficient production & waste reduction
Efficient use of scarce resources
Efficient water use
Efficient use of alternative energy resources
Also, successful projects in the Gulf are presented in this whitepaper.
Giovanni Angliolini, Director Middle East and Africa at Dutch Greenhouse Delta
Dr. Abdulaziz, Rabeh ALharbi, Liaison PIB NL HortiRaod2theGulf
