Prime Minister of New Zealand visits World Horti Center

On the morning of Tuesday 24 June, in the context of his visit to the NATO summit, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited World Horti Center in Naaldwijk. The working visit focused on the trade relationship between New Zealand and the Netherlands, with particular attention to innovation in horticulture.

Trade relationship and innovation
During his visit, Prime Minister Luxon participated in a roundtable discussion with various representatives from across the horticultural value chain, from cultivation to technology. Also present were the Mayor of Westland, Bouke Arends; the Netherlands Ambassador to New Zealand, Ard van der Vorst; the New Zealand Ambassador to the Netherlands, Susannah Gordon; and World Horti Center CEO, Puck van Holsteijn. The roundtable featured a constructive dialogue about the investment and business climate in New Zealand and how stable regulations can strengthen trade between the two countries. Key transitions in areas such as energy, water, robotics, AI, and emission reduction were also discussed, with a focus on mutual learning and innovation. Puck van Holsteijn commented: "We didn't just talk about trade and technological innovation, but also about the unique collaboration in the Netherlands between business, education, research, and government. Both countries have strong agricultural universities, which lay a solid foundation for sustainable progress."

Innovation in action
Following the roundtable, Van Holsteijn gave a short and dynamic tour of the knowledge and innovation center for sustainable horticulture. Prime Minister Luxon was visibly impressed by the theme squares he encountered along the way. At the I-Grow square, he saw comparisons of yield per square meter between open-field cultivation, greenhouse production, and vertical farming. At the Robotics & AI area, he interacted with AI assistant Cassie and viewed an animation of an autonomous greenhouse. During the tour, Luxon also spoke with André van der Wurff from Vertify, who presented some striking innovations, including vertical farming in greenhouses, upside-down crop cultivation, and systems where plants move toward the robot.

An inspiring visit
Van Holsteijn described the visit as inspiring: "It was not a courtesy visit, but a meaningful conversation about our shared ambitions for a greener world and food security. The Prime Minister was well informed and asked insightful questions." Upon leaving, Luxon wrote in the World Horti Center guest book: "Thank you for such an inspiring visit that has highlighted the many collaboration opportunities between New Zealand and the Netherlands. Happy Growing!"