Togheter with 20 companies, VitalFluid B.V. represented by Paul Leenders joined the #agtech trade&innovate mission to British Columbia in Canada. During this 5 days mission a lot of horticulture companies and organisations are visited. Aim of journey is to learn and connect the Dutch horticultural sector with Canada.
Kick-off day 1: Four sessions with speakers like Evi Mustel (Greater Vancouver board of Trade), Ries Neuteboom (Signify), Michel Benoit (UFGA) and Linda Delli Santi (BCGGA). They all gave their insights on doing business in Canada, information about the greenhouse- and flowersectors, and gave some information on the cultural differences between Canadians and Dutchies!
Day 2: This day the delegation viseted ecoation, an incredible company that greatly represented the innovative, and technological side of Agtech innovation.
Next up they went to Windset Farms, one of the leading greenhouses in Canada, a company that perfectly represents innovative greenhouses.
Day 3: Visit at the Ag-innovation day at Simon Fraser University with a kick-off by a blessing from Elder Margaret, a keynote from Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation for the Netherlands, and Brenda Bailey, Minister of JEDI for British Columbia, where both Ministers stress the importance of shared #innovations to sustainably feed a growing population.
After the formal remarks, an LOI was signed between Wageningen University & Research and Simon Fraser University, to collaborate on future research programs, share knowledge and spark innovation in the #agtech world. Both university presidents Sjoukje Heimovaara from WUR and Joy Johnson from SFU signed the agreement.
Day 4: tours at Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, both visiting the BCCAI (BC Centre for Agricultural Innovation) space and some of the labs where innovative solutions are being designed.
Second stop is at Bevo Farms Ltd a vegetable propagation and flower operation, where Leo Benne showed both the flower greenhouse and the vertical farming operation.
It was a great mission with a lot of opportunities. A special thank goes to Consulate General of the Netherlands in Vancouver of organizing everything.
#sustainablefarming #sustainableagriculture #tomatoes #cucumber
