Netherlands Palestinian Authority Agro, Food & Technology Economic Cooperation Mission. 6-7 December 2013

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1 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. 1

2 Forum outcomes - 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). - 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. - Measurable and achievable working program and goals for cooperation for the short (next 2 years) as well as long term (6 years) - 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: - Forum with Presentations and Working Groups to define the Agro, Food & Technology Forum Outcomes and an Action Program for follow-up. - Field visits to Companies and Academia/institutions. - Networking event between participants of all missions, their PA guests and Ministers present. - One-on-One Matchmaking 2

3 Program schedule 08:30 Transfer from Bethlehem to Jericho Friday 6 Dec Agro, Food & Technology Program only Field visits :30-11:30 Arab Association Project, Dairy Farm and dairy factory Visiting Manasreh Dates Factory and Farm Transfer to Al Oja 12:30-13:00 13:00-14:00 Field Visits Aziza Poultry Farm Herbs and Pepper Frams Field visit and Lunch Sinokrot Packing House Lunch at Sinokrot Transfer to Jericho Field Visit (jointly with all missions) PADICO Holding 17:30-18:30 Transfer to Jerusalem Tour within the Old City 20:00-20:30 Transfer to hotel in Bethlehem Network dinner at Jacir Palace Intercontinental* Welcome with PA Chambers of Commerce, Bank of Palestine, Dutch Representative to the Palestinian Authority * At own expense 3

4 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: Transfer to Bethlehem, fresh up at hotel 10: :00 12:00 Meeting Ministers Rutte, Timmermans, Ploumen 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: 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 Tea break 15: Working groups (Second Sessions) with Regional Focus. Pitch intro's, evaluations and conclusions in Whitepaper Forum Agro, Food & Technology formulation Matchmaking 18:00 18:45 Plenary wrap up, press etc. Presentation whitepapers by Forum delegation leaders and Signing MOU G2G by officials Reception - networking event Dinner (on invitation) co-hosted by Ministers Ploumen and Naji 4

5 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: - Food Security analysis / study - Demographics, GDP, Agro-Food development - Agro Food production & added value creation - 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 5

6 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. 6