Innovation Mission: Next Generation Farming
From 12 to 16 November 2017, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy Network in the United States and local partners such as the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), will organize a knowledge and technology innovation mission to California on the topic of “Next generation farming”. The program includes an optional one-day visit to Vancouver, Canada (end-date of mission 17 November) organized by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Vancouver for those participants interested.
The mission
The mission is targeted to specifically match Dutch participants to Californian partners and create opportunities for B2B and knowledge cooperation and is part of a multiyear effort to collaborate on Climate Smart Agriculture. We will focus on supporting R&D-driven start/scale-ups and bridging the cultural divide between the agricultural community and agtech companies in applying innovative technologies on the farm. The tentative mission program includes company and site visits in the Central Valley, roundtable discussions and matchmaking sessions.
Climate change and recent policy changes in California are having a profound impact on the agricultural sector. Record-breaking drought means that farmers are looking for opportunities to decrease water consumption and increasing labor cost create a need for automation in the field.
Companies working in the fields of:
- Smart Irrigation
- Robotics/Automation
- Sensors/Data Analysis
- Vertical Farming/Greenhouse Technology
related to agricultural primary production are encouraged to participate.
Cost
The participation fee for the innovation mission is € 250,- per person. Participation includes collective program, transfers to and from activities in the program, as well as lunch and/or dinner where included in the program. The participation fee excludes travel and accommodation fees (flights and hotels), all individual costs, possible costs of matchmaking and additional costs associated with the optional visit to Vancouver.
Registration
If you are interested in participating in the mission, please register by Monday, 11 September 2017.