Dutch
German
The ‘Agro-food’ building block mainly focuses on projects to improve the Food Supply Chain through crossovers with logistics and the manufacturing industry. Through this building block, we initiate projects by taking a look behind the scenes (i.e. through the other building blocks). Ultimately, we have to set up circular (food) businesses with all stakeholders and the food supply chain (logistics) will make a significant contribution to this.
The objectives of the building block include making transport (electric, hydrogen) and storage (e-cooling/off-grid systems) more sustainable within the Food Supply Chain, processing residual flows and developing Agro-Clusters (with expertise in food, logistics and real estate) by sharing knowledge and executing projects in this regard. The latter is also a ‘moral duty’ under the Green Deal!
Municipalities, governments (including Germany) and consumers will lay down their requirements in order to make transport to their regions more sustainable. International, cluster-cluster (= region), and ‘last-mile’ (agro-food) transportation takes place to and from Venlo. The focus will be on reducing CO2 emissions; this is quantifiable and in line with the optimisation of (agro-food) freight flows. The building block also focuses on projects, through which food chains can be better controlled and monitored using innovative instruments, ultimately resulting in less waste being produced.
In addition, further automation and robotisation play an important role, because ‘available manpower’ and flexibility are huge challenges in terms of ensuring the processes (storage/processing) in the food supply chain remain feasible in the near future.
We make use of the knowledge and experience of other organisations. This building block will not participate directly in primary production projects. Effective education and training are of importance to be able to achieve and continue the processes. We want to support the relevant parties through this building block, including at the Brightland Campus. By embracing the circular (food) economy, Supply Chain Valley is able to guarantee the continuity of the Food Supply Chain Cluster in our region.
Quote Jan Vorstermans, chairperson “Agro Food”
“The Food Supply Chain can make a sizeable contribution to achieving a circular
(food) economy. Let’s facilitate businesses in such a way with supply chain projects, that they would like to participate in order to (be able to) take the next step!”
