India and Netherlands Deepen Agriculture and Agritech Partnership as Dutch Minister Begins Six-Day Visit

India and the Netherlands are moving to expand cooperation in agriculture, agritech, horticulture, food processing and sustainable value chains as Dutch Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture Silvio Erkens begins an official visit to India from September 27 to October 2, 2026.

The visit is aimed at strengthening the broader India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership while opening new opportunities for Dutch and Indian companies across agricultural technology, seed development, protected cultivation, sustainable crop protection, cold-chain logistics and food processing.

According to the Government of the Netherlands, the mission represents the first visit to India by a Dutch government minister since the two countries announced their Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in May 2026.

It is also the first visit by a minister from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature to India since 2018.

India Emerging as Major Global Agrifood Innovation Market

Minister Erkens described India as a rapidly expanding agricultural economy that is increasingly becoming an important global centre for agrifood innovation.

India’s scale, expanding food-processing sector and growing use of agricultural technology are creating opportunities for collaboration with the Netherlands, which has developed specialised capabilities in areas such as seed technology, greenhouse cultivation, water-efficient agriculture, horticulture and agricultural logistics.

Erkens said the Netherlands sees significant scope for sharing its knowledge and innovation capabilities with India, particularly in seed improvement and greenhouse technologies.

The objective of the mission, according to the Dutch government, is to deepen bilateral trade relations while creating new opportunities for Dutch companies operating in the Indian agricultural market.

18 Dutch Companies Join India Trade Mission

A delegation of 18 Dutch businesses and organisations is accompanying the minister during the visit.

More than 350 Dutch companies are already active in India, including businesses working across the potato and seed sectors, poultry, dairy and horticulture.

The Netherlands has identified seeds, sustainable crop protection, agricultural logistics, technology and knowledge sharing as some of the most promising areas for future commercial cooperation with India.

Participation by the business delegation reflects the increasingly commercial character of the India-Netherlands agricultural partnership, which is gradually moving beyond government cooperation towards deeper private-sector involvement.

Strategic Partnership Gives Agriculture Greater Importance

Agriculture and food systems were identified as major pillars of the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership announced in May 2026.

During their bilateral engagement, India and the Netherlands agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, food systems and responsible value chains while encouraging closer collaboration between companies from both countries.

The two governments also recognised opportunities in agri-tech, protected cultivation, food processing, dairy and poultry, sectors where Dutch companies have already developed a substantial presence in India.

This cooperation is particularly relevant as India seeks to raise agricultural productivity while reducing water consumption, improving food quality and expanding high-value horticulture.

Dutch Expertise Supporting Agricultural Centres of Excellence in India

One of the most established areas of cooperation between India and the Netherlands is the development of agricultural Centres of Excellence using Dutch technology and expertise.

These centres focus on high-tech greenhouse agriculture, improved planting materials, farmer training and advanced cultivation methods.

The objective is to help Indian farmers increase crop quality and productivity while reducing excessive use of water, fertilisers and agricultural chemicals.

The two governments agreed in May to continue expanding the effectiveness of these centres through greater knowledge exchange and technical cooperation.

Such projects have become an important example of how international agricultural partnerships can be adapted to Indian farming conditions rather than simply importing foreign production models.

India and Netherlands Cooperate on Clean Plant Programme

Another important element of bilateral agricultural cooperation involves India’s Clean Plant Programme.

India and the Netherlands are working together to establish Clean Plant Centres that can improve access to disease-free and high-quality planting material for important horticultural and fruit crops.

Disease-free planting material can significantly improve productivity, crop quality and export competitiveness while reducing losses caused by pathogens.

The partnership includes cooperation between the Netherlands’ Naktuinbouw and India’s National Horticulture Board for capacity building and technical support.

The programme could become particularly important as India expands production and exports of high-value fruits, vegetables and horticultural products.

Dairy and Animal Husbandry Cooperation Also Expanding

India and the Netherlands are also deepening cooperation in dairy and animal husbandry.

During the establishment of the Strategic Partnership, both governments welcomed the creation of an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence on Training in Dairy at the Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry in Bengaluru.

The initiative is intended to support training, technical knowledge and modern dairy-management practices.

India is already the world’s largest milk producer, while the Netherlands possesses extensive experience in high-productivity dairy farming, animal nutrition, genetics and agricultural processing.

Combining India’s large production base with Dutch technological expertise could create opportunities in dairy productivity, animal health, processing and value-added products.

Food Safety Becomes Another Area of Cooperation

Food safety has also emerged as an increasingly important component of the bilateral relationship.

India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority have established institutional cooperation aimed at strengthening food safety and regulatory knowledge.

This becomes particularly relevant as agricultural and processed-food trade between India and Europe expands.

Greater regulatory cooperation could help producers better understand quality standards, certification systems and market-access requirements in both countries.

Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru at Centre of Dutch Mission

The Dutch minister’s six-day programme covers several of India’s major agricultural and commercial centres.

The substantive programme begins in Delhi on September 28 with meetings involving India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The discussions are expected to focus on agricultural cooperation, trade, food systems and areas where Dutch technology can complement India’s expanding agricultural economy.

Erkens will then travel to Mumbai on September 29, where the programme includes a round-table interaction with business leaders, the opening of the Anuga FoodTec expo, engagement with Maharashtra government representatives and discussions with India’s seed industry.

Bengaluru Programme Focuses on Horticulture and Innovation

The delegation will travel to Bengaluru on September 30 for a trade programme involving the 18 participating Dutch companies and organisations.

The minister is also scheduled to meet Karnataka’s Horticulture Minister and engage with stakeholders involved in agricultural technology and horticulture.

On October 1, Erkens is expected to open the Agricon HortiConnect Expo and the Dutch pavilion.

The Bengaluru programme also includes a visit to Dutch cold-chain logistics company NewCold, which is expanding activity in India and seeking to professionalise temperature-controlled logistics.

Reliable cold-chain infrastructure is particularly important for India because significant quantities of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other perishables can lose value between the farm and the consumer due to inadequate storage and transportation.

Improving cold-chain logistics could therefore support both food security and agricultural exports.

Startups and Scale-Ups Form Part of Agrifood Mission

The Dutch visit will conclude with an agrifood innovation programme involving Indian startups and scale-ups.

This aspect of the mission reflects the growing importance of agritech startups in India, many of which are developing technologies covering farm automation, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, crop monitoring, agricultural biotechnology, logistics and food processing.

Collaboration between Dutch agricultural companies and Indian technology startups could create a new layer within the bilateral relationship.

India offers scale, engineering talent and a rapidly growing technology ecosystem, while the Netherlands contributes specialised expertise in agricultural science, horticulture and food systems.

EU-India Trade Agreement Adds New Economic Context

The ministerial visit also takes place against the backdrop of the conclusion of negotiations on the India-European Union trade agreement in January 2026.

The Netherlands government has described the agreement as strategically important for India, the Netherlands and the wider European Union.

The Netherlands already serves as one of India’s important commercial gateways into Europe because of its logistics infrastructure and the Port of Rotterdam.

At the same time, India offers Dutch companies access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets.

Agriculture, food processing, agricultural technology and logistics could therefore become important beneficiaries of deeper India-EU economic integration.

From Agricultural Cooperation to Integrated Agritech Partnership

The September-October ministerial visit demonstrates how the India-Netherlands agriculture partnership is becoming broader and more technologically focused.

Earlier cooperation largely concentrated on agricultural knowledge and horticultural expertise. The relationship now increasingly encompasses greenhouse technologies, seeds, crop protection, food safety, cold chains, dairy, food processing, startups and agricultural innovation.

This broader approach reflects changes taking place within Indian agriculture itself.

India is seeking to increase farm productivity and farmer incomes while simultaneously improving sustainability, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening agricultural exports.

Dutch expertise in high-productivity agriculture and advanced horticulture offers potential areas of collaboration, while India’s enormous agricultural market provides opportunities for Dutch technology and investment.

The visit by Silvio Erkens therefore represents more than a conventional trade mission. It forms part of a larger effort to build an integrated India-Netherlands agritech and food systems partnership combining government cooperation, private-sector investment, research, startups and agricultural innovation.

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References

Government of the Netherlands — Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture Silvio Erkens to visit India, September 25, 2026.
https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2026/09/25/minister-for-food-security-fisheries-and-horticulture-silvio-erkens-to-visit-india

Government of the Netherlands — Joint Statement by India and the Netherlands, May 16, 2026.
https://www.government.nl/documents/2026/05/16/joint-statement-by-india-and-the-netherlands

Government of the Netherlands — Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-agriculture-fisheries-food-security-and-nature

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