Netherlands – Palestinian Authority
Agro, Food & Technology Economic Cooperation Mission
6 - 7 December 2013
From 6 to 7 December an Agro, Food & Technology Economic Cooperation mission will be
part of the official Dutch government delegation to the Palestinian Authorities. The delegation
is headed by Dutch Prime Minister Rutte who is accompanied by Dutch ministers
Timmermans and Ploumen and four business missions (Water, Energy, Agro, Food &
Technology, ICT).
The mission comprises Networking Opportunities, Field Visits and the establishment, with
Government support, of a Business and Academia Economic Forum. Aim is to explore and
define cooperation in the integrated value chains of organic produce (Primary Sector, Added
Value Creation, Logistics, Processing and Marketing). It deals with sector activities in
agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, water, food technology, food engineering, packaging,
storage and logistics as well as Hi-Tech, ICT, R&D, know-how transfer and
certification/legislation.
Goal:
A multi-year agenda for economic cooperation in Agro, Food & Technology, by
1.
Establishment of a long-term cooperation structure between businesses,
academia and government from the Palestinian Authority and The Netherlands, using
a Business Led Triple Helix Approach, taking the International Food Security
Challenge as leading theme for innovations in science, technology development and
know-how transfer.
2.
Establishment of a working program with selected topics to optimize contributions
to Palestinian Food Security and to develop more business and academia relations.
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Forum outcomes
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Bilateral cooperation structure, mirrored by business driven participation of
companies and research institutes, supported by government and centered around
priority cooperation topics in both areas (Netherlands – Palestinian Authority).
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Bilateral cooperation structure with regional focus
bilateral cooperation structure focusing on the potentials for cooperation in developed
and developing countries with special attention to partners in the Middle East region
and in Europe.
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Measurable and achievable working program and goals for cooperation
for the short (next 2 years) as well as long term (6 years)
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Bilateral cooperation program for:
- Developing and Transfer of Know-How
- Practical Solutions to specific Palestinian Areas’ Challenges
Mission Programm
The Agro, Food & Technology Economic Mission program includes:
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Forum with Presentations and Working Groups to define the ‘Agro, Food &
Technology Forum Outcomes’ and an Action Program for follow-up.
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Field visits to Companies and Academia/institutions.
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Networking event between participants of all missions, their PA guests and
Ministers present.
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One-on-One Matchmaking
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Program schedule
Friday 6 Dec
Agro, Food & Technology Program only
08:30
Transfer from Bethlehem to Jericho
Field visits
09.30-10.30
Arab Association Project, Dairy Farm and dairy factory
10:30-11:30
Visiting Manasreh Dates Factory and Farm
11.30 - 12.00
Transfer to Al Oja
Field Visits
12:30- 13:00
Aziza Poultry Farm
13:00-14:00
Herbs and Pepper Frams
1400 - 15.00
Field visit and Lunch
Sinokrot Packing House
Lunch at Sinokrot
15.00 - 15.30
15.00 - 17-30
Transfer to Jericho
Field Visit (jointly with all missions)
PADICO Holding
17:30-18:30
Transfer to Jerusalem
18.30 - 20.00
Tour within the Old City
20:00 - 20:30
Transfer to hotel in Bethlehem
20.30 - 22.00
Network dinner at Jacir Palace Intercontinental*
Welcome with PA Chambers of Commerce, Bank of Palestine,
Dutch Representative to the Palestinian Authority
* At own expense
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Saturday 7 Dec
Combined program for all missions
07:10 – 07:40 Departure from hotel to Hebron area
07:40 – 09:30 Field visit to Al-Salam Cooling (Hebron area).
Cold storage warehouse for chilling and deep freezing and the first & only IQF
factory for vegetables and French Fries in the West Bank.
The visit starts with Breakfast at the site, with
Introductions by Chamber of Commerce on regional development incl. agri &
horticulture, wholesale market, leather industry, feed and meat etc.
Bank of Palestine, Hebron Branch on financing and banking
09:30 - 10.30
Transfer to Bethlehem, fresh up at hotel
10:30 - 11.00
Meeting Ministers Rutte, Timmermans, Ploumen
11:00 – 12:00 Forum event, registration and start networking
12:00 – 12:45 Plenary Opening, all missions and Palestinian invitees
Welcome address, keynote speeches in the presence of Ministers.
12:45– 14:00
Break with networking lunch
All participants including officials
14:00 -14.30
Plenary opening: Forum Agro, Food & Technology
Challenges Working Group Topics
14:30 – 15:30 Working groups (First Session) with Bilateral Focus.
Pitch intro's, evaluations and conclusions
15.00 - 15.15
Tea break
15:15 – 16.15 Working groups (Second Sessions) with Regional Focus.
Pitch intro's, evaluations and conclusions in
Whitepaper “Forum Agro, Food & Technology” formulation
16.15 - 18.00
Matchmaking
18:00 – 18:45 Plenary wrap up, press etc.
Presentation whitepapers by Forum delegation leaders and
Signing MOU G2G by officials
18.45 - 20.00
Reception - networking event
20.00 - 22-00
Dinner (on invitation) co-hosted by Ministers Ploumen and Naji
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Working Groups
Working Groups concentrate on the selection of priority topics for cooperation and the
definition of a work plan. One outcome could also be the decision to jointly define proposals
for joint projects and support application. Working Group outcomes will be described in a
concluding White Paper.
I. Food Security Development P.A. 2020/2025
(Opportunity for Academic-Institutional and B-2-B R&D cooperation)
Introduction: Pitches on estimated Strengths and Weaknesses
Dutch Group Leader: Prof. Raoul Bino, Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group, Wageningen UR
Palestinian Group Leader: Prof. Ziad Abdeen, Al-Quds University
Aim: Food Security action program for hardware, software and know-how for e.g.:
Fresh fruits, Herbs & vegetables (including potatoes and onions), Processing and Packaging,
Dairy, feed & meat, Eggs and Poultry (chicken, turkey), Beekeeping, Cold chain & logistics.
.
Case Study: Food Security P.A.
The population of the Palestinian Authority (West-Bank and Gaza) is expected to grow
exponentially in the coming 10 to 15 years from 4.2 to 6.7 million by natural growth and
increased life expectancy (excl. migration). Population growth and demographics, GDP
development, will lead to particular challenges in food security. Dutch researchers have
performed scenario studies and their knowledge as well as Dutch technology could offer
solutions to the challenges ahead.
This working group will discuss the following holistic aspects for joint research:
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Food Security analysis / study
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Demographics, GDP, Agro-Food development
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Agro Food production & added value creation
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Marketing, Logistics & Distribution
II.
Integrated (Cold) Chain Development, Meat & Dairy
Regional distribution and exports require modern and sustainable conditioning, storage and
logistics facilities, procedures and regulations to guarantee food security in quantity and
quality. The Palestinian Agricultural sector currently suffers from losses due to lack of an
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integrated (cold) chain. The Office of the Quartet amongst others identified that Palestinian
Agriculture would benefit greatly from increase in yields and harvests. In addition, the
Palestinian Agricultural Ministry and the FAO agree that the Palestinian Agricultural
Production, especially when yields increase, would benefit greatly from investments in an
integrated (cold) chain in different sectors as well as access to markets. This holds for
horticulture, poultry and meat industry, post-harvest handling and storage etc.
This working group focuses on what exactly is needed and how Dutch and Palestinian
business partners can implement a modern cold chain.
III. Fresh market development, CBI Value Chain analysis (Horticulture)
One week before departure we expect to be informed by CBI about their latest findings and
analysis of value chains in the P.A. with special attention to the fresh products sector. This
Working Group will define the
Case study: Agro food Park development
Rapid development in amongst others demographics and income drives the need to serve
the retail and food service requirements with a steady guaranteed supply of fresh as well as
processed food products. In the Palestinian Territories centers where ‘demand meets supply’
are required. Focus should be on intermediary storage, added value creation, cross docking
and logistics taking into account sustainable integrated investments and procedures including
management, quality control and certification. Centers are required at Jericho, Hebron and
several other locations for Agro-hub, Agro Food Park and Wholesale market development in
the P.A..
IV. Waste Water Reuse in Agri, Aqua & Horticulture as well as in Food &
Technology (together with Water mission).
Water is scarce in the Palestinian Territories and is getting scarcer. Access to clean water as
well as to water that was cleaned, could benefit amongst other the AgroFood sector in the
Palestinian Territories. Cleaned waste water infrastructure is highly underdeveloped in the
Palestinian Territories. The need for optimalisation of water (re)use is evident through
programs like ‘more crop per drop’ and ‘water footprint’.
This working group focuses on Needs, Analysis and reuse methods of and innovations in the
water sector (for divers applications). It is open to business as well as academia.
Optional, a similar Working Group as under IV could be organized for “More food per Joule” and
“CO2 footprint” together with the Energy Mission.
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