“Westland: Global Capital of Horticulture”
By Roy Lie Atjam
On Wednesday, 10 September 2025, the Mayor of Westland, Mr. Bouke Arends, and Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Publisher of Diplomat Magazine, successfully hosted a networking event for the Diplomatic Corps at Koppert Cress – Division Q in Monster-Westland. The event drew a significant number of ambassadors and embassy representatives, united in their support for the establishment of the Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions.
Koppert Cress and Division Q, led by Stijn Baan, Bart van Meurs, and their dedicated team, made a remarkable impression on the guests by showcasing their innovative products and leadership in horticultural advancements.
The gathering offered invaluable insights from Mayor Bouke Arends, Wesley Toelen, and Mark Verheul on the importance of greenhouse horticulture, the municipality’s international ambitions, and the outcomes of the recent Westland delegation trip to Japan. Discussions also covered the progress of plans for the Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions.
Keynote Speech by Mayor Bouke Arends
In his welcome remarks, Mayor Arends emphasized the vital role of horticulture in global food security. He said:
“Thank you very much for joining us here today. It is good to see so many of you back in Westland.
We are very happy to be at Koppert Cress—one of the most innovative and progressive companies in the horticultural industry. Stijn, thank you very much for having us.
As some of you might know, we recently travelled to Japan. We visited different regions and cities where we already have partnerships, and we participated in the horticultural mission to EXPO 2025 in Osaka. Together with over 25 companies from the horticultural industry, we explored opportunities in Japan and discussed how this Dutch industry can help Japan advance its horticulture and food and flower production.
The technologies developed in Westland not only enhance sustainable food production in greenhouses but also find their way into other industries and even into people’s homes. Dutch horticulture plays a crucial role in enabling local food production around the world, helping millions access affordable, healthy food. Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. As mayor of Westland, I am a strong advocate for boosting local food production in the most efficient, sustainable and controlled way possible. And just as strongly, I believe in the power of cooperation, which was reflected so well in the theme of the Expo: ‘On Common Ground’.
To achieve this mission on a global scale, we must work together. The partnership between the municipality of Westland and the Japanese Prefecture of Kochi is a perfect example of what we call a horticultural friendship—a collaboration that brings mutual benefits and lasting impact. In 2009, we embarked on our partnership with Kochi. Over the past 15 years, this collaboration has grown into a strong and productive relationship that has brought remarkable progress, both in Kochi and in Westland. Together, we have made significant contributions to the development of the horticultural sector in Japan.
This partnership has opened valuable doors for Westland-based companies while also supporting innovation and sustainable growth in vegetable cultivation in Kochi. In fact, Westland has become a model for the Japanese government—a role we are honoured to play. Over these 15 years, more than 300 growers, students, and researchers from Kochi have visited Westland, participating in missions, field visits, training programmes, and courses. Through these exchanges, they have learned how growers in Westland work every day towards the most sustainable and efficient ways of producing food and flowers. More importantly, they have applied these lessons in their own companies in Kochi. The partnership between Kochi and Westland is not just a success story—it’s a model. A model for how we can work with other regions around the world. Because the need for locally grown, sustainably produced food is greater than ever before.
Increasingly, food is being weaponized and used as leverage in international relations. At the same time, climate change and the scarcity of raw materials threaten global food systems. With the world population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the need for sustainable, local food production has never been greater. I firmly believe that horticulture holds the key to worldwide food security. That is where the strength of future cooperation lies.
Besides our longstanding relationship with the Prefecture of Kochi, the municipality of Westland aims to intensify strategic networking with similar regions and stakeholders around the globe. In recent years, we have signed numerous MoUs and established fruitful cooperation with around 30 regions in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Central America, and the Far East. Until now, however, these have largely been bilateral partnerships. That is why, as you know, we have taken the initiative to launch a Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions—a platform for multilateral cooperation.
Even though we are on different sides of the world and embrace distinct cultures, our challenges—ensuring food security, adapting to climate change, creating business opportunities, and advancing food diplomacy—are very similar. We will update you about our progress later during this programme. Let me end by reinforcing the core message that brings us here today. Why do we organise receptions like this? Why do we nurture partnerships like the one with Kochi? Why are we launching a global alliance?
Because the world faces enormous challenges: to produce enough food to feed a growing global population under extreme pressures—climate change, long droughts, sudden floods, and increasingly destructive storms. This demands smarter, more efficient and sustainable food production methods. Controlled environment agriculture—growing food in greenhouses—is one of the best answers we have. Let’s see this reception not just as an event, but as another step forward, another milestone in building stronger cooperation. Because we must work together, on common ground, towards a common future.”
Other Contributions
Other speakers at the event included Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Stijn Baan and Mark Verheul.
Dr. De Lara highlighted the role of agricultural diplomacy, stating: “Since 2023, the Mayor of Westland, Mr. Bouke Arends, in partnership with Diplomat Magazine, has organized engaging sessions for heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the Netherlands. These sessions highlight the region’s potential to foster collaboration among governments, businesses, and academia, while enhancing food production and creating business opportunities for the Netherlands and beyond.
These initial agricultural diplomacy visits have led to the formation of the Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions. With an annual GDP of around €6 billion, Westland is a leader in the Dutch economy and home to the highest concentration of agricultural and agri-tech enterprises.
The Alliance focuses on:
• Exchanging best practices through online platforms, in-person events, and field visits.
• Expanding business opportunities with mutually beneficial solutions.
• Promoting food security by developing sustainable local food systems through Controlled Environment Agriculture and sharing Dutch expertise in greenhouse cultivation.
Together, we are shaping a sustainable future through innovative food technology and advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. We invite you to seize this incredible opportunity.”
Stijn Baan captivated the audience with stories of how astronomy meets horticulture in hundreds of restaurants worldwide. Guests had the opportunity to taste oyster flavors, nut flavors, and more. He presented the greenhouse farm with its enormous tropical trees and fruits, guided them through the unique “museum,” and served freshly sprouted cresses to everyone. Cresses—freshly sprouted seedlings from 100% natural aromatic plants—deliver a unique freshness and an intensity of taste and aroma that can only be found in young seedlings.
In brief, Mr. Mark Verheul emphasized that the roadmap for the Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions represents an exciting journey towards “farming the future together”. Multiple activities are planned between now and the Greentech Amsterdam conference in June 2026.
Mark highlighted the participation of the Netherlands delegation at the Osaka Expo, where His Majesty King Willem-Alexander addressed the National Day of the Netherlands on 21 May 2025:
“Here in Osaka, we are proud to present the Kingdom of the Netherlands in our own pavilion, based on the theme of ‘Common Ground’. For the Netherlands, ‘Designing future societies for our lives’ isn’t some lofty ambition on the distant horizon. It’s our daily reality. Just ask our growers, who brought about a horticultural revolution and increased food security.”
Mark further outlined the achievements of Westland, which currently maintains 16 active horticulture agreements and is developing 22 more potential partnerships, aiming to build a global network of 60 horticultural regions.
He also emphasized the role of Wageningen University & Research – CEA Innovation Community (WUR-CIC), a worldwide innovation hub for Controlled Environment Agriculture. WUR-CIC brings together growers, industry leaders, experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to share insights, foster collaboration, and co-create solutions that improve sustainability, productivity, and efficiency in agriculture.
Benchmark organizations and networks involved in the process include:
- Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
- Strong Cities Network
- Global Parliament of Mayors
- United Cities and Local Governments
- Resilient Cities Network
- C40
Mr. Verheul presented an overview of the Global Alliance of Horticultural Regions, highlighting its potential legal structure, membership criteria, and funding model:
- To be established as an Association under Dutch law, registered with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce.
- Open to all horticultural regions worldwide, as well as related knowledge institutions and businesses.
- Membership fees for horticultural regions could be based on GDP or population size.
- Knowledge institutions and businesses may contribute fees aligned with different levels of engagement.
- Additional funding could come from international grants, sponsorships, or philanthropic investment.
On Thursday, 16 October 2025 – United Nations World Food Day – the Alliance will receive international media attention as the establishment process is officially launched. This includes:
- A joint press release
- Interviews and background information
- The launch of www.globalhorticulture.org
- The start of Expressions of Interest to join the Alliance
- Dedicated communication through info@globalhorticulture.org
Looking ahead, a series of online information sessions is already scheduled for November 2025, and January, March, and May 2026.
