Emerging countries want agro-parks

Metropolitan agriculture with agro-parks in developing countries can make an important contribution to satisfy the growing demand for animal proteins and thus support food security, says Madeleine van Mansfeld of Alterra Wageningen UR. The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation plays an important role by bringing parties together abroad.

Picture: Impression of a planned agro-park in Caofeidian (China).

Madeleine van Mansfeld, Peter Smeets, Arjen Simons and some twenty other researchers from various corners of Wageningen UR design and set up agro-parks, rural hubs (where networks of people with small businesses share work space as well as ideas), and new agro-logistics in emerging economies. These concepts follow the principles of industrial ecology and are more sustainable than conventional systems. The work of the researchers is commissioned by governments and industry abroad, and demand for their services is growing.  It’s about clustered production, where meat, dairy, eggs, vegetables and fruit are processed and traded in large-scale complexes situated close to the urban consumer. This is good for people too, because the systems deliver jobs and demand good education for employees. In China and India, plans have progressed almost to the point where construction can begin. But also in South Africa, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico, Egypt and the Ukraine, plans are taking shape in which researchers from Wageningen UR play a central role as co-designers, alongside the commissioning agents. ‘The demand for proteins and high-value, guaranteed safe food is rising extremely rapidly in all of these countries. Our own livestock industry is approaching its limits. It is time for new strategies’, says Van Mansfeld.  Other countries have the space for agro-parks that is so difficult to find in the Netherlands. Furthermore, many developing countries still lack a good agro-logistic network for replacement – a new, better system supplying farmers with sufficient quality. ‘The experience that the Netherlands has acquired in livestock industry is something to be proud of. That knowledge is an important export product’, according to Van Mansfeld. ‘Agricultural attachés do great work in matchmaking between industry, government and knowledge institutes. It is essential that we not forget education. These systems cannot function without suitably educated people at all levels.’