The Netherlands joins forces at SARA

With over 120 organisations participating, including those from the Netherlands, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Morocco, and Niger, the SARA event offered abundant opportunities for forging new international partnerships. It was not a stage for showcasing the Netherlands as a solution-provider but as a willing partner in the global quest for sustainable agriculture.

During the event, the Dutch Ministry of Nature, Agriculture, and Food Quality signed two significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), one with the Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and another with Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry for Animal and Fisheries Resources. Furthermore, Invest International, an impact investor organization based in the Netherlands, inked an MoU worth 300 million euros with Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Finance and Economy to bolster public infrastructure development in the region.

A series of programs were unveiled during the event, including three new combi track projects: Horticôte in Senegal, HortiNord, and Orange CocoaPro for cocoa production. The Netherlands proudly hosted approximately 20 workshop sessions within the NL Pavilion, as it held the honor of being the official Country of Honour at this year's SARA. These workshops delved into topics such as food sovereignty, sustainability, agro-ecology, and the pursuit of better living incomes for local farmers.

The event exemplified a remarkable synergy between various stakeholders. Notably, Orange Corners made its presence felt with a startup mission. With entrepreneurship at the forefront of the Dutch embassies' agenda in the region, this occasion provided a splendid platform for the promotion of Orange Corners' incubatees and alumni actively engaged in the agricultural sector across Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco.

Adding to the list of achievements at this event, the Netherlands received the prestigious "Best Pavilion" award at SARA. Under the banner of the "Farming the Future" campaign, the Netherlands leveraged its pavilion to emphasize the importance of sustainable agriculture in the region. The focal point was to illustrate how solutions could be localized to suit the unique needs of different communities. The launch of the "Farming the Future" VR movie was a remarkable addition, showcasing the Netherlands' expertise in the field. Visitors were transported virtually to the Netherlands, where they could draw inspiration from sustainable agricultural practices, further emphasizing the Netherlands' dedication to international cooperation in addressing global agricultural challenges.

As we reflect on the Netherlands' participation in the SARA event in Côte d'Ivoire, we are reminded of the power of collective efforts and international collaboration. Together, we can inspire transformative change in the world of agriculture and usher in a more sustainable and equitable future.

For those who are intrigued by the possibilities of partnering with the Netherlands in the field of agriculture, we invite you to explore the opportunities waiting for you at farmingthefuture.nl. There, you can discover how we can work together to address global challenges, localize solutions to diverse contexts, and create a brighter future for agriculture, hand in hand. Let us embark on this journey towards a more sustainable and prosperous tomorrow, where we cultivate innovation and cooperation as the seeds of change.