The Food & Nutrition Delta is an innovation program, aiming at making the Netherlands a leading Food Innovation region in Europe. Networks and platforms will be created in an integrated manner to develop new technologies in order to enhance the new business development along the food industry, with special attention to Small and Medium Enterprises. This will lead to the development of innovative, new or enhanced food products that fulfill consumer needs and expectations. Those products, combined with recommended changes in lifestyle and eating patterns, will have a positive impact on public health and the quality of life. Moreover, the competitive edge and market position of the food industry will be enhanced.
The agro-food industry is of paramount importance for the Dutch economy. It accounts for 10% of GDP and employs over 600.000 people. The Netherlands have to create a higher added value in this sector via an enhanced competitive edge. A means to come there is through open innovation. 75 companies, amongst which all major companies and some larger SME's have identified the largest business growth areas for Food, resulting in the following themes:
1. Food & Health,
2. Sensory & Structure
3. Bioingredients & Functionality
4. Consumer behavior
5. Safety and Preservation
6. Adjacent technology for Food & Nutrition
Action lines for these themes are 1) Market driven innovation: the intensification and increasing the pace of the business renewal in the F&N Delta, 2) Invest in competence development: get enough brains & hands of excellent quality in the F&N Delta.