We are currently facing one of the greatest social challenges of this century: over the coming 40 years, the global food demand will be equal to the total amount of food produced over the last 8,000 years. Applying high-tech systems and materials and new ICT possibilities will support the agrarian and food sectors to meet the enormous social challenges associated with this. Moreover, the competitive position of these sectors in the Netherlands will improve and opportunities will arise to export new systems using these applications. Conversely, high-tech sectors will be challenged to find solutions to the problems that have stood in the way of such applications until now, such as non-uniform products, the circumstances in which systems have to function and limited economic scope for innovation. It is essential that the sectors concerned work intensively together on these opportunities.
The Technology Roadmap High Tech to Feed the World (HT2FtW) – now part of the knowledge and innovation calendars of four top sectors (High-tech systems & materials, Agri & Food, Horticulture & Raw materials, and ICT) – is a document drawn up by a consortium of Dutch high-tech firms, knowledge institutes and government agencies, with the aim of strengthening crossover partnerships and innovation.
The 4TU.Federation is a co-initiator of the AgriFoodTech platform. This platform enters into dialogue with society with the aim of devising solutions to social problems together with civil society organisations, farmers, entrepreneurs, designers, government knowledge institutes and industry. Strengthening the already intensive links between Agri & Food, Horticulture & Raw materials, High-tech & ICT and design is leading to more rapid innovation. This creates a large number of economic and societal opportunities, resulting in greater added value for all sectors and strengthening the position of the Netherlands and the Dutch economy. The themes that will be put to civil society organisations in the coming period are:
• Food waste
• Footprints
• Food safety
• A liveable environment
• Optimal nutrition / food as medicine (yet to be finalised)
The initiators are expressly inviting you to join them in getting the dialogue underway. For more information, visit the website: www.agrifoodtechplatform.nl.