Strengthening NL-UK Agricultural Links

News item | 16-07-2026 | 16:38

The Netherlands continues to strengthen its agricultural ties with key UK regions. Through visits to Norfolk and the Groundswell Agricultural Festival in Hertfordshire, the Embassy team engaged with local authorities, farmers, businesses, and knowledge institutions to exchange ideas on sustainable agriculture, innovation, and the future of the agri‑food sector.

Norfolk: Connecting with Dutch companies and local stakeholders

The Agriculture team visited Norfolk together with Ambassador H.E. Paul Huijts and Dutch Honorary Consul Andrew Wood to strengthen links with local stakeholders in the region. During a meeting in Norwich, we engaged with representatives of Dutch companies and local partners in order to make connections, and to hear from them about developments in the agricultural sector. 

It was an honour to welcome the Deputy Leader of Norfolk County Council (Strategy & Local Government Reorganisation), as well as delegates from NFU Norfolk and companies such as Koppert UK, The Greenhouse Growers, Ploeger Oxbo Group, Barenbrug UK, and ForFarmers UK.

the Royal Norfolk Show

The following day we attended the Royal Norfolk Show as guests of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. This annual agricultural show brings together farmers, businesses, knowledge institutions, and community organisations to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the agri‑food sector, and highlights the important role Norfolk plays in UK agriculture and food production.
 

 

During the visit we had the opportunity to speak with members of the RNAA Council, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Show President Rt Reverend Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, the University of East Anglia, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, East of England Energy Group, Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance, Norwich Research Park, and Hethel Innovation Hub.

Ambassador Paul Huijts also presented the Arthur and Rosemary Baillie Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best working horse in the “Best Horse of the Year” qualifier.

We look forward to further strengthening cooperation between the Netherlands and the Norfolk region for our agricultural relationship with the United Kingdom.

Hertfordshire: Groundswell festival

On 1 and 2 July our Agriculture team visited the Groundswell Agricultural Festival in Hertfordshire, together with lecturers from Dutch agricultural colleges, Dutch young farmers, and representatives from other Dutch organisations.

Groundswell is a two-day regenerative agriculture festival that provides a forum for farmers, growers and anyone interested in agroecological systems to learn about producing food and fibre while regenerating the soil and land. Since its first edition in 2016, Groundswell has expanded to include hundreds of speakers covering topics such as soil biology, biodiversity, livestock integration, agroecology, food systems, and climate resilience

Two days full of talks, meeting people, exchanging ideas, and learning from each other.

Over two days we attended talks, met participants from across the sector, exchanged ideas, and learned from each other. The Dutch visitors met with representatives from NFU, DEFRA, and LEAF to learn about current challenges, developments, and programmes, and took part in a meet‑up with young farmers from the UK organised by AHDB and Harper Adams University.