Securing sustainable food supply by bridging our open innovation ecosystems

抄録

【講演者の紹介】

　Edo de Ronde (エド・デ・ロンデ) Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), Executive Director for Japan

　略歴：2024 – Executive Director for Japan, NFIA, 2020 –Executive Director for Middle East & North Africa, 2015 –Business Manager Asia & Logistics, Rotterdam Partners, 2004 – Business Owner, Source M & China Talents B.V. Business development consultancy / project management

[Development of healthy and sustainable food solutions]

The urgency of climate change measures on a global scale is increasing day by day, and it is a well-known fact that food production has a significant impact on global warming, loss of biodiversity, marine ecosystems, etc. Although the Netherlands is a small country, it has an advanced and competitive Agri-Food sector and is committed to developing healthy and sustainable food solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

In 2018, in the wake of food security concerns and sustainability efforts, the EU called on member states to develop protein strategies. In response, the Netherlands announced the Dutch National Protein Strategy in 2020, setting a goal of increasing self-sufficiency in plant-based and innovative proteins over the next 5 to 10 years.

The gist of the strategy is to promote domestic protein crop production, research and development of plant-based protein sources, and increase the proportion of plant-based proteins in the diet, and to promote the acceptance of plant-based foods by actively engaging consumers.

[An ecosystem that creates innovation]

An ecosystem is essential for innovation, which is a key driver of the policy. The Netherlands has a vibrant ecosystem that promotes innovation through a triple helix approach, with over 500 companies, supportive government agencies, and renowned university research institutes. The Dutch ecosystem is composed of five main elements: collaboration, innovation, a solid international corporate base, branding, and transformation. For example, the Netherlands has already grown into one of the world's largest hubs in the field of alternative proteins over the past 20 years and is expanding into the fields of cellular agriculture and precision fermentation.

[International collaboration]

Furthermore, international collaboration plays important role in supporting these ecosystems. Currently, there are a wide variety of food-related issues, and due to the complex geopolitical situation, there are many social problems that cannot be solved by a single country alone. Sustainable food innovation remains a priority, the Netherlands is taking the leadership and accelerating innovation to quickly solve future world problems, with promoting international collaboration that maintains win-win relationships that utilize each country's strengths working toward a sustainable and healthy food system of the future.