By Roy Lie Atjam
The Municipality of Westland in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine organized an information session for the heads of diplomatic missions regarding the proposed Westland Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions. The session took place on March 5th, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel The Hague. The World Network will be officially launched during the first week of September at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
A field trip to Westland will be organized after the trip to Osaka at the end of September 2025.
The opening of the important information session was done by Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Publisher of Diplomat Magazine. Her opening remarks were, “I am excited to see the strong interest in advancements in horticulture and sustainable agriculture. The Netherlands has established itself as a global leader in innovative horticulture, and Westland is at the forefront, setting international benchmarks in food production, environmental responsibility, and economic development.
Diplomat Magazine has played a crucial role in connecting the diplomatic community, actively supporting your initiatives, and uncovering new opportunities to advance your agendas in the Netherlands.
World Network of Horticulture Region, the impactful journey began in early 2023 when I met with the Mayor of Westland to launch the first field day for ambassadors at Westland’s horticulture centre. On December 1, 2023, a select group of ambassadors and diplomats gathered in Westland for an introductory meeting, effectively facilitated by Mayor Bouke Arends and Diplomat Magazine.
Following this, we held a second successful visit to Westland in 2024, featuring a meticulously curated program that offered profound insights into Westland’s innovations, productivity, and global partnerships in horticulture.Your engagement this evening is greatly appreciated.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Her Excellency Sahar Ghanem, whose invaluable support has been invaluable,as well as to the Leonardo Royal Hotel for their contributions.
The Mayor of Westland Mr. Bouke Arends will now present how the Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions can significantly enhance diplomatic and trade relations between our nations and the Netherlands.”
In brief, this what he said “I am delighted to see so many diplomats from around the world gathered here this afternoon for the Municipality of Westland’s initiative to establish a Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions. As many of you may know, Westland is the epicenter of Dutch horticulture, located just a stone’s throw from The Hague. It boasts the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world. The Dutch horticultural sector is renowned for its expertise, technology, and innovations that can be found in greenhouses worldwide.
Additionally, our country is famous for the delicious fruits, vegetables, and stunning flowers cultivated in controlled environments, particularly in the Westland region. The Dutch horticultural sector supports local production globally and provides access to affordable and healthy food for tens of millions of people. The strength of the Dutch greenhouse horticulture cluster lies in its ecosystem of close cooperation among government, the corporate sector, and relevant academic institutions. This unique environment fosters innovation and collaboration, making our cluster the Silicon Valley of greenhouse horticulture—a region where all key players in the horticultural value chain are present within an area of approximately 100 square kilometers.
Given the current geopolitical situation, access to safe and healthy food for certain parts of the world may be at risk. The availability of food is increasingly being used as a weapon. Additionally, the scarcity of raw materials and the impact of climate change play significant roles in this issue. Furthermore, the world population is growing rapidly, with projections indicating that by 2050, it may reach approximately 9 billion people, primarily concentrated in large cities. This situation underscores the urgent need for more healthy and sustainable food production at the local level. I firmly believe that horticulture is key to achieving global food security, and this is where the potential for future collaboration lies.
The Municipality of Westland aims to strengthen strategic networking with similar regions and relevant stakeholders worldwide. In recent years, we have signed numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and established fruitful cooperations with around 30 regions in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Far East. However, these partnerships have largely been one-on-one. Therefore, establishing a Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions could be beneficial, allowing for a more multilateral approach. Despite being on different sides of the world and embracing diverse cultures, we share similar challenges in ensuring food security, enhancing biodiversity, adapting to climate issues, implementing robotics, expanding business opportunities, and practicing food diplomacy.
In the past year, I had the pleasure of visiting countries such as Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam, where I experienced their hospitality, entrepreneurship, and horticultural sectors firsthand. One thing that stood out to me during these visits was their strong drive to improve and develop the horticultural sector, as well as their personal growth. I recognize that same determination in the people of Westland, especially when I welcome delegations from around the world who visit us. I am eagerly looking forward to promoting horticulture at the World Expo in Osaka during the first week of September this year, as I lead a major trade mission from Westland to Japan. We are grateful for our close cooperation with partner regions Aichi, Mutsu, and Kochi in making this program a success. Our work is more important than ever. On a daily basis, we must continue to address these pressing issues.
Our work is more important than ever. Daily, companies in Westland are striving to enhance the horticultural sector, thereby contributing to several Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations and promoting global food security. It is long overdue for us, along with our partners, to begin developing a solid food strategy. I believe that the greenhouse horticulture sector is essential for creating a successful food strategy.
We aspire to unite our efforts in tackling the global challenges related to food safety and security that we encounter daily. I would also like to invite all of you to an engaging field visit to Westland right after the World Expo trade mission on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. This will be an opportunity to further explore potential cooperation with regions in your countries as part of the pre-launch phase of the Global Alliance of Horticulture Regions.
I would like to hand the floor over to Mark Verheul, our Director of Alliance Establishment. He will provide insights into the concept, key focus areas, and main topics for discussion and decision-making. Mark will also outline the anticipated path forward and specific questions we have for your diplomatic missions. I hope to further discuss our initiative during an informal gathering afterward”.
Mr. Mark Verheul captivated his audience and ignited enthusiasm for his vision. He firmly articulated the necessity of building a Global Horticulture Network through robust collaboration among government, business, and academia—an approach that exemplifies Dutch development.
Verheul stressed the importance of actively practicing food diplomacy, which includes securing observer status in key United Nations bodies and other multilateral organizations. He asserted that we must cultivate the future together by leveraging cutting-edge food technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence, to significantly enhance agricultural productivity.
To firmly establish Westland as the Capital of World Horticulture, several strategic initiatives must be implemented. This includes the official launch of the Global Alliance for Horticulture with all participating regions and the expansion of global partnerships. Westland has already forged exchange and development agreements with Kazakhstan, and this initiative will undoubtedly strengthen global horticultural cooperation while driving sustainable food production worldwide.
The afternoon concluded with everyone leaving motivated to join the Global Alliance of Horticulture.
