Business

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Food technology is of vital importance to the Northern Netherlands. It forms an important pillar of the regional economy. With its abundant arable farming, the region has always been a major producer of raw products for the food industry and aquaculture. The sharp focus on innovation is another attractive aspect.

The products include sugar beets, potatoes, milk (and all of its derivative products) and grains. This makes the Northern Netherlands exceptionally attractive to companies with activities based on the ingredients produced by agro-processors. The sharp focus on innovation is another attractive aspect. The conditions to enhance the innovative strength of the Agro-Food industry are constantly being created.

Fundamental and applied researchThe food sector in the Northern Netherlands is related in many ways to relevant knowledge and research centers, where top quality fundamental and applied research is carried out. There is also plenty of knowledge that can be used to improve opportunities in the chain from consumer to production and vice versa. A good case in point is the Carbohydrate Competence Center, a consortium of knowledge institutions and businesses setting out to generate, develop and share knowledge in the carbohydrates area. The purpose of this is to promote innovation and to contribute to a healthy and sustainable society. Or take Food Circle and Food Future, projects more specifically for the SME sector and also intended to encourage innovation. The Northern Netherlands therefore has a strong network culture and numerous experimentation options for customer-based product development. And then of course there is Wetsus, centre of excellence for sustainable water technology. Wetsus is facilitating intermediary for trend-setting know-how development. The inspiring and multidisciplinary collaboration between companies and research institutes in Wetsus results in innovations that contribute significantly to the solution of the global water problems.

Healthy ageingThe region aspires to becoming a world leader in the area of healthy ageing: getting older healthily and actively. For that reason University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), Groningen University and the northern universities of applied sciences are acting in close cooperation with the business community and public authorities to the generation of fundamental new knowledge and application options in that area. About our food pattern, for example. This manifestly creates inspiration and opportunities for the development of new food products.

Agro and Food-related companiesCosun, FrieslandCampina, AVEBE, DOMO, Lypack, Hellema, Van der Meulen Meesterbakkers, Steensma Food Ingredients, DOC Kaas, Agrifirm, Royal Smilde foods, Frysian Egg, Koopmans Meelfabrieken

Knowledge and other relevant institutesGroningen University, Hanzehogeschool Groningen, UMCG, Van Hall Larenstein (division of Wageningen University), Dairy Campus, Dutch Drying Institute, Wetsus

Contact
For more information please contact Joep de Vries: jdevries@nom.nl or +31 (0)6 25 39 26 71