Food and related issues is the central theme of the Dutch submission to the World Expo 2015 (Milan 1 May – 31 October). By way of a unique public private partnership The Netherlands will demonstrate its world leadership in many food and agricultural sectors. The Netherlands will also show how it deals with issues such as food security, ecosystems, biodiversity, animal welfare, genetic modification and the application of nanotechnology.
The Dutch pavilion will carry the name Holland Delta to pinpoint the link between water, land and food in our country.
A special business programme will be offered at the monumental Museo Leonardo da Vinci in central Milan, this programme consists of presentations, investor meetings, seminars, debates and matchmaking sessions in collaboration with the The Hague-based Museon, which will create a special interactive exhibition about food and Dutch food innovation.
In addition, events will be organised in the Dutch pavilion of interest to general and business visitors. Demonstrations, a dynamic series of temporary exhibitions and discussion meetings will be organised about themes relevant to everyone. Naturally, tasting dishes won’t be forgotten. Scientists and food innovators will demonstrate that “new nourishment” is tasty as well.
The Dutch participation is managed by an independent foundation (The Stichting World Expo Milaan 2015) which is supported, among others by the central government, the City of Rotterdam and other regional and local authorities, VNO – NCW (Dutch employers association), MKB Nederland (SME employers association), Europe Council (the Europe division of NCH, the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion) and dozens of companies and knowledge institutes. The foundation will mobilise relevant and interesting knowledge and expertise from the private sector, research institutions and government bodies and develop partnerships. The foundation works in close collaboration with partner companies and organisations, which, for a fee will be able to book and fill time blocks and thematic activities.
The foundation’s managing director Erik van der Schaft is glad that The Netherlands will participate in the Expo: “At last we’ve come to the point where we will contribute in a unique way which will do justice to Dutch food and agro expertise and our perspective on food-related issues. It’s fantastic a wide variety of organisations will collaborate. And beyond 2015 we will hopefully have an equally amazing World Expo 2025 in Rotterdam.”
