China and Dutch greenhouse horticulture have been exchanging knowledge and high-tech innovations for years. This collaboration will intensify over the coming years thanks to the development of no fewer than four knowledge and innovation centres modelled on World Horti Center. Greenport Food & Flower Xperience (GFFX) Foundation, one of the initiators of World Horti Center, signed the strategic agreement with TUS-Holdings from Beijing on 9 May. From June the parties will start investigating the most suitable locations for the centres, and the plan is to develop the knowledge and innovation centres further over the coming years.
GFFX and TUS-Holdings will develop four World Horti Centers
The concept of World Horti Center - where research, education, business and government innovate, connect, create and inspire together - can already be considered a success after just one year. In its first year of existence the centre welcomed over 40,000 visitors from more than 57 countries. Mark Zwinkels, project director, says: “With the World Horti Centers that are going to be developed in China we are building a bridge between Dutch greenhouse horticulture and the extensive expertise that China has in the field of technology and the market potential in that country. With our partners in education and research - Lentiz and Demokwekerij Westland - and the companies that are based in World Horti Center we can intensify the exchange of knowledge and business development. We are thereby taking an important step towards the further internationalisation of World Horti Center.”
TUS-Holdings originated from the large Tsinghua University in Beijing. Over the past 20 years the company has grown to become one of the biggest developers and operators of science and technology parks in China. The company also has shareholdings in hundreds of companies inside and outside China, including in horticulture.
For more information:
Mark Zwinkels
World Horti Center
markzwinkels@worldhorticenter.nl
+31 – (6) 29 014 305