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| January 2026 |
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Dear ,
Best wishes for 2026 and good health.
In the Netherlands we always start with that, because good health matters for families, communities, and businesses alike. And a good health depends on food and products that are sufficiently available, affordable, diverse, and safe.That means responsible farming, strong awareness, and strict standards.
The members of HollandDoor are committed to healthy production, and worldwide we see a growing demand to improve food safety and to increase production without sacrificing environmental impact.
Our experts are proud of the international programs, trainings, and study tours in the Netherlands where they share this knowledge in practice.
Stay healthy - and contact us if you’re interested in a study tour or training in 2026.
Ad, Cedric, Engelie, Geerten, Jan Willem, Jos, Lisanne, Marian, Niek, René.
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Rwanda study tour to agri-food innovation clusters
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HollandDoor recently hosted a study tour to the Netherlands for a Rwandan delegation, commissioned by AGRA and organized in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The delegation included representatives from the Rwandan government, AGRA, the Mastercard Foundation and Vanguard Economics, all engaged in shaping the future of Rwanda’s agri-food innovation system.
The visit forms part of ongoing collaboration with WUR on a multi-year strategy for Rwanda’s Food Innovation Hub, aimed at attracting private investment and research to accelerate food system development. The ambition is to move beyond primary production and position Rwanda as a hub for innovative agriculture and food R&D.
During an intensive three-day programme, the delegation explored Dutch agri-food innovation clusters and the role of public-private partnerships. With many insights gathered, the focus now turns to turning inspiration into action.
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Dalum Landbrugsskole explores the future of agriculture
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HollandDoor recently hosted another Dutch Agri Sector Familiarization Tour for a new generation of students from Dalum Landbrugsskole, Denmark. Over three days, from 11 to 13 November 2025, the 19 participants explored why the Dutch agri-food sector remains a global leader in innovation and sustainability.
The programme was tailor-made to provide the students with first-hand exposure to advanced production systems, focusing on land, labour and energy efficiency. A key takeaway for the group was the realisation that automation is not an end goal in itself but a vital tool for remaining competitive and improving sustainability in a global market.
The trip was an invaluable opportunity to exchange knowledge and highlighted how the Netherlands uses automation and mechanization to improve working conditions, increase productivity and simultaneously reduce environmental impact.
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Strenghtening India's farmer producer organizations
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Autumn 2025, HollandDoor and van Hall Larenstein successfully delivered a comprehensive capacity-building programme for twelve officers from the SMART project from Maharashtra, India. Between 15 September and 3 October 2025, the SMART officers took part in an intensive three-week training programme in the Netherlands. Through a blend of classroom workshops, case studies and company visits, participants explored Dutch best practices in cooperative management, market-driven farming and value chain innovation. Building on this foundation, the group reconvened in India in late November for a three-day strategic workshop in Baramati were they co-developed a training toolkit and practical exercises. These resources will help local trainers guide FPOs (farmer producer organizations) towards adopting a “from push to pull” marketing mindset – shifting from simply producing crops to proactively meeting market demands.
In the coming year, the twelve trained officers will take on roles as FPO coaches and facilitators, supporting hundreds of farmer groups in developing business models, strengthening partnerships and improving market access.
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Digital adoption strategies by Asian agro SME's
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In June 2025 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a project titled “Promoting Digital Technology for Sustainable, Inclusive, and Resilient Agriculture in Asia” to provide technical assistance in China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The project will help to accelerate the use of digital technologies by smallholder farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the agricultural value chain in these countries.
As part of this project, ADB commissioned HollandDoor to organize a tailored consultation study tour in the Netherlands from 16-23 November 2025. The main aim of this consultation visit was to understand how advanced technologies are developed and adopted in the sector. The insights gained will serve as input for a roadmap for the development of policies and integrated investment strategies, including public-private partnership models to scale up digital technology adoption, particularly among poor and marginalized farmers in China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
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Access to finance for controlled environment agriculture in
Egypt
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HollandDoor has been commissioned to work on an Access to Finance Study for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in Egypt by Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD) on behalf of Invest International. The study forms part of a broader Dutch public-private effort to support sustainable and scalable horticulture development in Egypt and strengthen cooperation between Egyptian agribusinesses and Dutch knowledge, technology and finance providers.
Egypt faces increasing pressure on water resources, rising production costs and growing demand for a reliable food supply. CEA offers clear technical solutions to these challenges, but adoption remains limited, one of the main constraints being access to appropriate finance.
The study focuses on understanding how current CEA projects in Egypt are financed and where gaps exist. Within this assignment, HollandDoor is contributing its experience in agri-finance, horticulture and business analysis to help link technical investment needs with the financing terms and decision-making criteria used by financiers.
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Driving change in Georgia's dairy sector
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In the end of December 2025, HollandDoor hosted a delegation from the Georgian Farmers Association (GFA) on a high-impact study tour in the Netherlands. The programme was part of the EU-funded CAPCA project, aimed at promoting Georgia's socio-economic development through improved food safety and increased agricultural exports.The delegation, consisting of active dairy farmers and GFA project leaders, engaged in an intensive programme designed to bridge the gap between EU regulatory theory and daily farm operations. The group gained a comprehensive understanding of registration requirements and the dairy certification scheme.
This tour provided the delegates with the insights they need to begin aligning their local practices with international food safety standards.
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Nigeria delegations visit the Netherlands
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In June and October 2025, HollandDoor, in collaboration with Messerand, hosted a delegation of Nigerian private sector and regional government institutions at two Dutch Africa Agriculture Strategic Meetings. The aim was to investigate opportunities for knowledge transfer, closer cooperation and business development between Dutch stakeholders and their Nigerian agricultural counterparts.The two-day events sparked interesting discussions and provided valuable insights and ideas for concrete business opportunities.
We will continue with this programme of strategic meetings in 2026.
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