FoodNL represents four leading food regions that together form Europe’s largest contiguous and most innovative food production area. Building on this strong foundation, we have been actively engaged in Brussels for many years, contributing to the development and implementation of European food and agricultural policy.
As responsibility for this policy increasingly shifts from Brussels to The Hague, we are also placing a clear focus on the national policy level. FoodNL seeks a structural partnership with the Dutch government to jointly work towards a future-proof, healthy and sustainable food system. Through our strong agrifood value chain, innovation capacity and practice-oriented living labs, we deliver concrete solutions for food security, sustainability and affordability — in the interest of both the Netherlands and Europe.
Activity
FoodNL in dialogue with Minister Wiersma on the future of food
On 30 October 2025, a delegation of FoodNL met with Minister Femke Marije Wiersma (Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature) to discuss the future of our food system and the role that the joint food regions can play in it. Representing AgriFood Capital, FruitDelta Rivierenland and Regio Foodvalley, Kees van Rooij, Jan Kottelenberg, Bennie Wijnne, Jules Goris and Bertil Rebel discussed with the Minister the strength of regional cooperation between government, entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions.
FoodNL is the partnership of four leading food regions—AgriFood Capital, FruitDelta Rivierenland, Regio Foodvalley and Greenport Venlo—which together form the largest contiguous and most innovative food region in Europe. On a daily basis, these regions work on solutions to the major societal challenges related to food production, processing and consumption.
During the meeting, FoodNL presented the Minister with a joint letter containing a clear call to action. The implementation of European agricultural and food policy requires structural cooperation between The Hague and the regions where food is produced, processed and innovated every day. Together with knowledge institutions and innovative entrepreneurs, FoodNL extends a hand to the Ministry to sustainably connect policy and practice, said Kees van Rooij, Chair of FoodNL.
Our strength lies in practice
In the FoodNL regions, more than 150,000 people work across the food chain—from farm to fork and from knowledge institutions to high-tech companies. From this broad base, we work every day on concrete solutions that contribute to:
- Healthier food, through education, behavioural change and product innovation
- More sustainable food, via circular farming systems, protein innovation and climate-smart production
- Affordable food, supported by fair earning models and choices that fit every household
Minister Wiersma expressed her appreciation for FoodNL’s offer to structurally connect policy and practice. After all, the future of food is not created behind a desk, but in the day-to-day practice of our regions.
FoodNL stands ready as a partner to work with the Ministry in building a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system—for the Netherlands and as an inspiring example for Europe.