The Netherlands is the second-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world after the United States and the agri-food sector contributes 10% of Dutch GDP. Dutch multinationals and some SMEs have been active in developing countries for decades. Efforts to ensure socially and ecologically responsible business practices, increase local sourcing and promote innovations are ongoing; in some cases through Public-Private Partnerships. Companies are increasingly signing up to voluntary CSR agreements (‘convenanten’), two of which are directly related to the agricultural and food sector.
2018-present Repositioning Dutch private sector interests
In addition to a focus on (1) nutrition, improving the livelihoods of small scale farmers, and ecological sustainability and (2) private sector development to increase investments in agriculture, the third priority in the policy paper of 2019 was: increasing opportunities for Dutch companies involved in agriculture and food-related industries, thereby enhancing the Netherlands’ international earning capacity.
